Minimally Invasive CRS of South Florida offers a new type of single incision surgery called Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. In this procedure, the gallbladder and gallstones are removed as the patient experiences many benefits of this type of surgery. These benefits include:

• Faster recovery time
• Less pain
• Shorter hospital stay (usually same day)

There is however, a chance that you will have to remain in the hospital after surgery. Here are some of the things that you can expect after you have undergone your procedure:

• You may experience pain in your shoulder and/or belly within 1 to 3 days after the surgery
• Loose bowel or irregular bowel
• Aches in your muscles (usually from the anesthesia)
• Nausea and/or loss of appetite
• Possible inflammation near the surgical wounds

It is typical that most people resume normal activity in just over a week after surgery. With that being said, it is also typical that you experience a bit of soreness for the week after undergoing Laparoscopic surgery. The good thing, is that in 2 to 3 weeks, you will experience much less discomfort than those who had open surgery. Also, you won’t have to worry about maintaining any type of special diet after surgery.

It has become widely accepted that laparoscopic surgery is the best method of treatment, assuming there are no complications that would prevent this type of surgery.

Please note, that there are some risks associated with this form of gallbladder surgery. For example, as with any type of surgery, there is a risk of infection of an incision. Also, internal bleeding, injury to the common bile duct and injury to the small intestine are all possibilities. Finally, there are always risks associated with general anesthesia that one should be aware of before getting single incision surgery.
When classifying gallstones, almost eighty prevent are classified as either pigment stones or cholesterol stones. The medical community is still a bit unsure about what causes pigment stones, however those who develop them usually have one of these issues:

• Sickle cell anemia
• Hereditary blood disorders
• Biliary tract infections
• Cirrhosis of the liver

As far as cholesterol stones, the medical community commonly believes that they are the result of bile that is made up of too much bilirubin or cholesterol…and do not contain enough bile salts. Also, failure of the gallbladder to empty out during the digestive process will also cause cholesterol stones to form.
The bottom line, is that if you think that you have a gallstone and need gallbladder surgery, you chould definitely consider laparoscopic surgery. Single incision surgery has many benefits and get you back on your feet quicker than open surgery. Contact Minimally Invasive CRS of South Florida at FloridaColonandRectalDoctors.com to get more information today.

Most patients have heard the phrase ‘Board certified’ or have heard of ‘Board certification’ when they arrive at their doctor’s office, but do they really know what it means.  “Board Certified” means that a doctor has gone through the voluntary process with the American Board of Medical Specialties that allows them to become board certified.  This process goes above and beyond the duty of becoming medically licensed.  Board certification demonstrates the doctor’s expertise in a particular specialty or subspecialty of medical practice.  Besides having board certification, a doctor will attain a Gold Star which means that the physician is committed to consistently achieving great outcomes with their patients.  Dr. Belizion from Minimally Invasive Colon and Rectal Surgery of South Florida is one of those doctors that is committed to the highest standards of patient care.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a non-profit physician led organization for 24 of the 26 medical specialty boards in the United States of America.  Almost one million doctors have voluntarily achieved certification by one or more of the specialty boards.  The ABMS was set up in 1933 and works closely with the various specialty boards in order to have the greatest standards for evaluating physician specialists.  The ABMS was set up with the purpose of supervising examinations that would test physicians and would assure the public of the physician’s specialty qualifications.

This purpose still holds true today.  Many patients still choose their physician because they have board certification.  Looking for a doctor that is board certified or has a Gold Star is a great way to measure the physician’s experience and skills in their expertise.  It is an easy way to know that your doctor has gone above and beyond simply getting a medical license.

To become board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties, physicians must undergo an intense process of testing and go through many peer evaluations.  These processes are designed and directed by specialists in the specific area of medicine.  Over the years the ABMS has established a program that requires physicians to become recertified, every six to ten years.  This program was initiated in the hopes that more physicians would pursue continuing education and examination in order to be as current as possible in their specialty.  In 2006 a new gold standard was adopted to ensure proof of continuing education in between recertification testing.

Physicians of many different specialties go through the process of becoming board certified.  Some of these specialties include surgery, radiology, psychiatry, neurology, plastic surgery, pediatrics, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology, medical genetics, family, internal, or emergency medicine, and dermatology.  There are more many specialties as well.  The American Board of Emergency Medicine was the latest ABMS member board to be approved in 1979.

Dr. Belizon specializes in minimally invasive surgery on the colon, rectal, gallbladder, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids surgery. Please visit his website at www.floridacolonandrectaldoctors.com, for more information or to schedule a check-up.

It can be difficult to identify a family history of colon cancer and to determine an individual’s risk for developing the disease.  To make a proper evaluation, doctors must have a complete and accurate family history.  However, a patient may be unaware of a family history of the disease.   Lack of communication with family members, premature deaths, extended families and more, can prevent us from knowing our full family history.

Also, some family members may just carry the genetic predisposition but may never develop it or had developed it before they passed away.  Getting a full family history is important, but sometimes hard to establish.  The closer an affected relation is to the patient, the higher the chance of inheriting.  This means parents, grandparents, parents siblings (aunt and uncles) and the patient’s own siblings, should be evaluated for any existing health conditions or predisposition for cancers, including colorectal cancer.  More often than not, a patient knows if a close family member has had the disease, because it is a devastating disease that affects most family members around them.  It would be hard to hide a disease of this magnitude.  The problem occurs when family members are estranged or twice removed in the family tree.

Colon cancer treatment begins with a Colonoscopy.  This procedure can detect benign or malignant polyps in the rectum and colon.  Benign polyps can develop into cancer and can be removed right then and there, during the Colonoscopy procedure.  A colon free of polyps lowers the risk of developing the disease.  It is recommended that by age 50 a first Colonoscopy is performed, but for those at higher risk, the procedure should be performed at a much younger age.  Removal of benign polyps during this procedure is minimally invasive colon surgery.

For those where malignant polyps are found, colon rectal surgery is recommended to remove the polyps and any affected surrounding tissue.  Before this is done, the patient is evaluated for any other primary cancers that may be present through an MRI or CT Scan.  A predisposition in a patient for colorectal cancer may also include a predisposition to other cancers such as endometrial cancer.  Predisposed patients are at risk of developing two primary cancers which could be two primary colon cancers or one primary colon cancer and one primary cancer elsewhere in the body such as the lungs or bones.

Prevention is always the best treatment and for those with a predisposition to the disease, by having two or more family members affected, should have a Colonoscopy for early detection.  There are other tests that can be given, when patients with affected family members are being evaluated.  Catching the disease before it starts or at an early stage, provides a positive diagnosis.  left undetected, is one of the top killers in the United States.

Make an a appointment today with Doctor Belizon at Minimally Invasive Colon & Rectal Surgery of South Florida for a check-up or any questions relating to colon treatments. Call anytime at  561-381-5991.

You have probably heard about a colonoscopy, but what exactly is it? A colonoscopy is an examination of the large colon and part of the bowel. Usually, a fiber optic camera is used to give a visual diagnosis. It also provides the opportunity to remove lesions or perform a biopsy. More recently, we are seeing the Virtual Colonoscopy used by way of CT and MR scans. The benefit here is that the exam is non-invasive; however this method is still under investigation to determine its efficacy.

A colonoscopy can be used to remove polyps smaller than 1 millimeter and with the help of a microscope, can be studied to see if they are precancerous. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that subjects who had a colonoscopy and found no polyps had an extremely low chance of developing colorectal cancer within 5 years. The big takeaway is that for these people, there is no need to undergo another colonoscopy until at least 5 years after the first one.These days, a colonoscopy is actually becoming a routine screen test for people over 40. This is because of the high mortality associated with colorectal cancer and low risks associated with a colonoscopy.

There are many signs that one may need a colonoscopy such as a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unusual changes in bowel habits, or possible malignancy. While colonoscopies are usually conducted to diagnose colon cancer, they are also used to diagnose IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease. Another reason to consider a colonoscopy might be an unexplained drop in hemotocrit, which is a sign of anemia.

How to Prepare for a Colonoscopy

To begin, patients should advise their doctor of any medical conditions they may have, as well as any herbs/vitamins, medications or anything else taken on a regular basis. Usually, your doctor will provide you with necessary instructions for preparing for a colonoscopy, but try to stay away from liquids containing red or purple dye. Also, after the colonoscopy you will not be able to drive for 10-12 hours…so make sure to have a friend drive you wherever you need to go.

What to expect

A colonoscopy is used to see inside the rectum and colon, so its best if all solids are removed from the GI tract by maintaining a clear liquid diet for a few days before the procedure.  Just prior to the procedure, the doctor will monitor the heart, blood pressure and oxygenation of the blood. Sometime patients feel a sense of pressure, bloating or cramping, so a sedative is often used to relieve this discomfort. You will be lying on your side or back while the device is advanced, and once the tip of the colon is reached, the colonoscope is withdrawn and the lining is examined. A colonoscopy can take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the patient.  Some doctors also prefer to make additional  assessment, by using an x-ray for further diagnosis.

For additional information please Contact Dr. Belizon at Minimally Invasive Colon & Rectal Surgery of South Florida www.floridacolonandrectaldoctors.com.