Capitol Surgeons LLC

Happy Valentine's Day

Patient Notice!
Dr. Conrad will not be available in the office on Thursday, April 1st and Tuesday, April 6th. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Robotic surgery- What to Know!

Robotic surgery has become adopted by hospitals in the United States and Europe for a wide array of conditions. The procedure commonly utilizes a camera arm along with mechanical arms with surgical tools attached to them. The surgeon is in full control of the arms while operating and monitors a high definition, magnified 3-dimensional view of the surgical site.

Advantages:
Enhances precision, provides flexibility, and gives surgeon better control
Creates a better point of view during surgery
Minimally invasive, meaning fewer complications

Risks:
There are risks similar to conventional open surgery, such as infection and injuring surrounding structures

Our physicians are professionally trained to utilize this leading edge technology and can offer patients this advanced method of surgery.

Why Choose Robotic Surgery | Marin General Hospital Dr. Yu’s superior expertise in robotic surgery for urological cancers is an asset to the Marin Urology Center and to the Marin healthcare community at large....

Strangulated Hernias

These hernias occur when there is fatty tissue or a section of the small intestine that pushes through a weakened area of the abdominal muscle. The surrounding muscles clamp down around the tissue and cut off the blood supply. The resulting strangulation can lead to intestinal shock, perforation, or gangrene (death of protruding tissue). It is a life-threatening condition and must be treated by a medical professional.

Symptoms include: acute pain that gets more severe, bloody stool, constipation, fatigue, fevers, nausea, and vomiting

Seek medical attention if you show any symptoms. Emergency rooms may make diagnoses and order Ultrasounds or X-rays to determine the hernia’s size and if bowel is present.

Surgery is the only option for strangulated hernias. The surgeon starts by reducing the strangulated hernia by gently applying pressure to help release the trapped tissue back into the abdominal cavity. Then the doctor will repair the defect with a synthetic mesh to prevent recurrence or other complications.
Check out this video for more on strangulated hernias.

Saving Lives With Gus: Incarcerated Hernia Gus is seen at the ER for what is a suspected incarcerated hernia.

Hiatal Hernias
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the large muscle separating the abdomen and chest. The diaphragm muscle allows your esophagus (food tube) to pass through a small opening before connecting to the stomach. Usually this type of hernia does not cause problems.

However it is still possible if you are having these symptoms: heartburn, regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chest or abdominal pain, shortness of breath, vomiting of blood or passing of black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hiatal hernias can be related to age-dependent changes in the diaphragm, injury to the area, and persistent/intense pressure on the surrounding muscles.
Other risk factors are common in people who are over 50 years old and who are obese.

Check out this video from PreOp Patient Engagement to learn more!

Hernia Hiatal Laparoscopic Surgery PreOp® Patient Education http://facebook.com/PreOp and https://preop.com Patient Education Company Your doctor has recommended that you undergo surgery to repair a hiatal hernia. But...

Warning signs of Hernias
It is important to seek out medical treatment if you are experiencing symptoms such as, nausea, vomiting, fevers, or chills. Do not ignore any pain you may be feeling because there is no way to know if it could be life-threatening. Hernias are bulges in the abdomen and they can grow in size, therefore if you notice a bulge getting larger it is imperative to seek medical attention. Finally, hernias can be pushed in and out of the abdomen, which is referred to as reducible. If you suspect that you have any combination of these symptoms then the best course of action is to speak with your physician.

Check out the link below to learn more!

Hernias 101: What You Need to Know Hernias can happen to anyone and are sometimes dangerous. Knowing the symptoms and understanding your risk can help you get the help you need, when you need it.

Good morning everyone,
We are pleased to inform you that we have relocated to a new office space. It is located in the same building, but it is down the hall from the previous office. You can find us as soon as you get off the elevators on the first floor, you can't miss it!

Umbilical Hernia Repair
An umbilical hernia is a bulge containing fat or intestine in the opening of the abdominal muscles near the belly button. Umbilical hernias are common in adults and infants. During gestation, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in the baby's abdominal muscles. The opening normally closes just after birth. If the muscles don't join together completely in the midline of the abdominal wall, an umbilical hernia may appear at birth or later in life. Too much abdominal pressure can contribute to umbilical hernias. Examples of increased abdominal pressure are:
• Obesity
• Multiple pregnancies
• Fluid in the abdominal cavity
• Previous abdominal surgery
• Long-term peritoneal dialysis to treat kidney failure

Umbilical hernias do not go away on their own, only surgery can fix them. If umbilical hernias are not fixed, the abdominal tissue can be trapped (incarcerated) and reduce blood supply to that section of the intestine. This can lead to abdominal pain and tissue damage. Surgery is recommended to avoid any complication, especially if the hernia is getting bigger or becomes painful.

Click the video link below to see how an Umbilical Hernia Repair is done (procedure starts at 4:00)

Laparascopic Incisional or Umbilical Hernia Surgery Patient Information, Ahmedabad A large number of people suffer from hernia and related pain. As with any other problem, people do have a lot of questions related to the treatment options f...

Robotic assisted Surgery

Robotic surgeries provide surgeons more flexibility, control, and precision when performing complex procedures. It is widely used throughout the United States and Europe for a wide range of conditions. The robot surgical system includes a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached to them. The surgeon has control of the robotic device and monitors a high-definition, magnified 3-D view of the surgical site.

There are advantages to robotic surgery compared to the traditional surgery. The surgeon has more mobility and dexterity when operating. The incisions are smaller therefore the scars are less noticeable. There are fewer complications, such as surgical site infection. Patients undergo a quicker recovery and can return to their daily lives sooner. The risks of robotic procedure are similar to traditional procedures.

Our surgeons are successfully trained in the Robotic Surgical System. Robotic surgery is not for everyone, so it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Click the link below to learn more about Robotic-assisted surgery!

About Robotic Surgery: What is Robotic Surgery? | UCLA Health Robotic surgery is surgery with very small incisions and better magnification, resulting in faster recovery times and fewer risks - UCLA Health

Sebaceous cysts
Noncancerous bumps underneath the skin. These cysts can appear anywhere on the skin but are commonly found on the face, neck, and torso. They are usually slow growing and painless. But if left unchecked, they can cause discomfort and/or infection. Sebaceous cysts can arise from blocked glands or swollen hair follicles in the skin. To treat these cysts, they can be drained or excised as an outpatient procedure.
To learn more about sebaceous cysts, check out this article from Healthline! https://www.healthline.com/health/sebaceous-cyst

What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that consist of cholesterol or bilirubin. These small stones are formed in the gallbladder and can block the bile ducts. This blockage causes bile to build up in the gallbladder and leads to abdominal discomfort.

For more information, click the link below!

The Basics of Gallstones WebMD explains the basics of gallstones, a digestive disorder.

Inguinal Hernia Repair
An inguinal hernia is a bulge through a weak part of the lower abdominal wall. It can occur on either side of the groin. The bulge most often contains fat or part of the intestine. Inguinal hernias are relatively common, and estimate shows that 27% of men and 3% of women will develop an inguinal hernia at some point in their lives. An open inguinal hernia repair or a Laparoscopic hernia repair can be done to resolve the hernia. Laparoscopic hernia repairs are less invasive and can be an option depending on each case. Synthetic mesh is used to reinforce the weakened area and the incision is closed with stitches, staples, or surgical glue.

Check out this video from Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center for more information!

Hernia Repair Inguinal (Laparoscopic) Nebraska Patient Education Before we talk about treatment, let's start with a discussion about the human body and about your medical condition. Your doctor has told you that you have a...