Pittsburgh, PA, 1^st September, 2009 A new technique of laparoscopic colon surgery pioneered by Dr. David Blumberg, a colon surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has paved the way for a broad range of patients to have an opportunity to undergo a successful laparoscopic colon operation.

Laparoscopic colon surgery is a minimally invasive technique of colon removal which despite many potential advantages has been under utilized by surgeons with only 5% of operations performed in this manner.  The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include small incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time.  Despite these advantages, laparoscopic colectomy has previously had high failure rates (up to 25%) because it is technically difficult and varied patient factors including; a history of prior abdominal surgery, adhesions, obesity and diseases located on the left side or transverse (middle) colon make it even harder to get the operation completed successfully.  Many surgeons do not offer laparoscopic colon surgery to patients with these more complex factors because laparoscopic colectomy has increased complication rates and overall worse outcome in these complex patient groups.

According to Dr. Blumberg, a novel way of performing laparoscopic colon resection surgery may change all of this.  Dr. Blumberg has shown that his new laparoscopic colectomy technique is equally effective in patients with prior abdominal surgery, adhesions, obesity and in diseases irrespective of their location in the colon.  All patients had similar excellent surgical outcome irrespective of these complex factors. This technique is also widely applicable for patients needing colon polyps surgery or colon cancer surgery.

Dr. Blumberg’s pioneering work was reported in the peer-reviewed journals Surgical Innovations in September 2008 and in Surgical Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Percutaneous Techniques February and June of this year.

So what is the secret to this new technique?  Dr. Blumberg says that his technique is the next level in advanced laparoscopic surgical technique. While the conventional laparoscopic-assisted colectomy is performed partly laparoscopically, Dr. Blumberg performs the entire operation minimally invasively.  In other words, the colon removal and the reconnection are all performed laparoscopically or intracorporeally.  If Dr. Blumberg encounters dense scar tissue in the abdomen unlike other surgeons who may stop the operation and make a big cut, he is able to complete the operation laparoscopically utilizing a device called a harmonic scalpel. This device cuts the scar tissue away from the colon and in his hands allows successful laparoscopic colon resection surgery with no increased major complications.  Dr. Blumberg acknowledges that his success is also related to a decade of experience in a center of excellence for minimally invasive surgery.

About Dr. Blumberg, Laparoscopic Colon Surgeon:

Dr. Blumberg has practiced at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and its affiliate Hillman Cancer Center for the past ten years. He is board certified in colon and rectal surgery and also received specialty training in colon cancer treatments and surgery at the world renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Blumberg is recognized as a national expert in the area of colon and rectal cancer and laparoscopic colon surgery. He has written over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. His pioneering work in laparoscopic colon surgery was initially brought to media attention with television interviews in 2004. He was acclaimed by his peers as one of Pittsburgh’s Top Doctors in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Blumberg is a dedicated pioneer actively working to improving the surgical outcomes of patients with colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, colon polyps, Crohns disease & ulcerative colitis while minimizing the trauma of an operation thorough his breakthrough minimally invasive  laparoscopic colon surgery technique, he coined bandaid colon surgery .

For Additional Information regarding this breakthrough Colon Cancer Treatment or to make an appointment contact:
Contact Information:

Dr. David Blumberg, M.D.,

Board Certified Colon and Rectal Surgery

Bandaid Surgery, PC
The Coronado Medical Building
500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

(412-682-3333)

www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com

Pittsburgh, PA, 11^th August, 2009- Colon surgery for obese patients usually requires a “big” incision. A “big” cut which may be over a foot in length is painful and in obese patients in particular may result in difficulty breathing resulting in pneumonia due to splinting from the abdominal pain. A large incision in obese patients is associated with high rates of wound infection and hernia. For these reasons, obese patients could potentially derive great benefits by having their colon surgery performed laparoscopically which utilizes small cuts and is less painful.

Despite the promise of laparoscopic surgery for obese patients, multiple top hospitals in the country have failed to come up with a successful way of performing laparoscopic colectomy in patients with obesity. Even at the best hospitals, laparoscopic colon resection surgery is a failure in as many as 40% of obese patients requiring ultimately a large incision, higher complication rates and prolonged hospitalization. As a result laparoscopic colon surgery is often avoided in patients with obesity for safety reasons.

A study performed by Dr. David Blumberg a board certified colon and rectal surgeon in Pittsburgh offers great hope for obese patients. Dr. Blumberg has pioneered a new laparoscopic colectomy technique that allows obese patients to undergo laparoscopic colon surgery with a high success rate. His work was published in the peer reviewed journal, Surgical Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Percutaneous Techniques this February. Dr. Blumberg’s technique differs from the usual laparoscopic colorectal surgery technique called laparoscopic-assisted colectomy whereby the surgeon performs only part of the operation laparoscopically. In Dr. Blumberg’s technique the entire operation is performed laparoscopically including the colon removal surgery and the reconstruction or anastomosis of the colon. Using this technique, Dr. Blumberg found that the laparoscopic colon operation could be completely successful in 96% of obese patients and 92% of morbidly obese patients with no increased complication rates and a similar hospital stay of 5 days for all patients. All of the operations were performed for colon tumors (colon cancer) and were equally effective in removing tumors in obese patients says Dr Blumberg as judged by equivalent lymph node removal in all patients. Dr. Blumberg believes that his novel technique is the reason for his high degree of success but also acknowledges that his own technical experience and ability may account for the superb results. He advocates that future randomized studies evaluate his completely laparoscopic colon resection technique and compare it to the laparoscopic-assisted colon removal surgery.

About Dr. David Blumberg:

Dr. David Blumberg is a colorectal surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Dr. Blumberg pioneered Band-Aid colon surgery, a novel laparoscopic colon surgery technique which results in less discomfort, quicker recovery, and improved cosmetic look. His technique offers hope for patients with colorectal diseases that also have obesity and prior abdominal surgery. Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS is a Board Certified General and Colorectal Surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. David Blumberg received his M.D. from SUNY-Downstate Medical School. He trained as a surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and as a colorectal surgeon at the prestigious Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Blumberg is recognized as a national expert in the area of colorectal cancer and laparoscopic colon surgery. He has written over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and was awarded by his peers as one of Pittsburgh’s Top Doctors in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Blumberg’s clinical expertise is in the areas of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns & Colitis), diverticulitis and laparoscopic colon surgery. Dr. Blumberg is dedicated pioneer actively working to improving the surgical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, colon polyps, Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis while minimizing the trauma of an operation.

Contact Information:

Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS

Bandaid Surgery, PC

The Coronado Medical Building

500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110

Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Phone: (412)682-3333

FAX: (412) 682-3335

Visit us on the web http://www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com/

Email: [email protected]

Pittsburgh, PA, 8^th August, 2009 -What is the best method to prevent, treat and most importantly cure America’s second most deadly disease –Colon Cancer?

Also known as colorectal cancer, Colon cancer is a malignant tumor of the large intestine. Each year over 150,000 Americans, over 10,000 of those Pittsburgh residents are diagnosed with this deadly disease. However, according to Dr. David Blumberg, a colorectal surgeon in Pittsburgh and founder of Bandaid Surgery, “with early detection, proper colon cancer treatment with surgery and routine check-ups, Colon Cancer has a 100% lifetime cure rate.

While Colon cancer is most prevalently diagnosed in people over age 40, the disease can be present at an early age and lay dormant in the colon as a form of colon polyps for many years before it becomes a malignant cancer.

The American Cancer Society and the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation say, “There are many factors that help lower a person’s risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight; consuming a low fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and beans; refraining from tobacco usage and exercising regularly”. “However, the most important factor in preventing colon cancer according to Dr. David Blumberg “is to get an annual Colonoscopy starting at age 40 if you have a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer and at age 50 if you have no risk factors”.  “This simple test, says Dr. Blumberg, allows the colon surgeon to examine inside the entire large intestine, detect inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers and diagnose early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum.  “Even if you don’t have symptoms,” says Dr. Blumberg, “upon examination of the colon, a diagnosis can be determined and a treatment plan can be prescribed. If the findings are colon cancer, the best surgical option is laparoscopic surgery”. “This minimally invasive colon surgery technique, according to Dr. Blumberg and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons uses tiny incisions, minimizes pain and promotes shorter hospitalization and early recovery!

“Getting tested has been proven to saves lives” and if you are diagnosed with colon cancer, find out if laparoscopic colon surgery is an option for you”. Laparoscopic colon surgery is now been proven safe for colon cancer treatment so why undergo an open operation with a big cut when it so much more painful and recovery takes months says Dr. Blumberg. Dr. Blumberg a colorectal surgeon in Pittsburgh has recently pioneered a new laparoscopic colectomy technique that reduces the size of incisions and allow a 95% success rate of completing a colon cancer operation via a laparoscopic or minimally invasive approach (www.mmdnewswire.com/laparoscopic-colon-surgery-5454.html)

About Dr. Blumberg:

Dr. David Blumberg is a Board Certified General and Colorectal Surgeon with special training in colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Chrohn’s & Colitis), and diverticulitis and Laparoscopic colon surgery. Dr. Blumberg is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has been recognized by his peers for clinical excellence as a surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) since 1999. Prior to this, Dr. Blumberg was a fellow in Surgical Oncology at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan and a fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the prestigious Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Blumberg is a recognized national leader in the area of colorectal cancer. He is the author of over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. Dr. Blumberg has been recognized as a Top Doctor in Pittsburgh by Castle Connelly for two consecutive years.  Dr. Blumberg has been performing Laparoscopic colon operations since 2000 and has a proven track record of expertise in this highly specialized field with multiple publications and innovations. If you have concerns about colon cancer or a colonoscopy call Bandaid Surgery, PC at 412-682-3333 for more information.

For Additional Information regarding Colon Resection surgery for Polyps and Colon Cancer Treatment or to make an appointment contact:

Contact Information

Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS

Bandaid Surgery, PC
The Coronado Medical Building
500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Phone: (412) 682-3333
FAX: (412) 682-3335

Visit us on the web http://www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com/

Email: [email protected]