Colon/Rectal Cancer

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEMS)
The Saint Vincent Cancer Care Center was the first facility in western Pennsylvania to offer cutting-edge TEMS technology for the
treatment of rectal cancer. Saint Vincent is one of only 49 TEM-capable facilities in the entire United States. With the highest technology
in cancer care in the region, there is no need for hours of travel.

“Saint Vincent has always given me excellent care, but more important, they helped me to feel more comfortable. That’s part of the reason I became a volunteer at Saint Vincent, so that I could carry that on and help to make other patients feel more comfortable.” — Walt, Colon Cancer Survivor

TEMS is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the removal of benign or early stage malignant rectal tumors through the rectum without an abdominal incision. The procedure may also be used to remove recurrent lesions.

The Procedure
TEMS involves the insertion of a proctoscope into the rectum. The protoscope can be inserted up to 20 centimeters into the rectum, reaching points very difficult to get to by conventional surgical methods. Because it is performed through the rectum, patients do not have to recover from deep abdominal incisions the conventional methods require.

This significantly reduces length of stay and recovery time. TEMS patients usually return home within a day, and recovery time is typically only one to two weeks. Conventional surgical methods require a six to ten-day hospital stay and a six- to eight week recovery time.

One of the most important benefits of TEMS is the accuracy of the procedure. Because TEMS is performed under magnification with an operative microscope, it is more likely that all of the cancer is removed.

TEMS Patient Benefits:

• Shorter length of stay
• Shorter recovery time
• No deep abdominal incisions
• Lower risk of complications
• Accuracy of procedure

For More Information
Physicians: To refer a patient, contact Dr. Kondylis directly at 814/456-2976.
Patients: To learn more, talk to your family physician or call Saint Vincent Ask-A-Nurse
at 814/452-5500 or 800/326-8080.

Laparoscopic Surgery
The Saint Vincent Cancer Care Center uses the most advanced, minimally invasive procedures whenever possible in order to reduce pain and risk of infection as well as to speed recovery.

Laparoscopic Procedure Benefits:

• Minimally invasive
  
• Reduced risk of infection
  
• Minimized or eliminated ICU stay
  
• Shorter overall length of stay
  
• Faster recovery
  
• Less post-operative pain

The following laparoscopic procedures are available at Saint Vincent:

• “The nurses at Saint Vincent were kind, caring and compassionate. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I have received care at other Erie hospitals and there is just no comparison to the care I received at Saint Vincent.” — Lorre, Colon Cancer Survivor

  Laparoscopic Colon Resection
  Laparoscopic colon resection is performed by a colorectal surgeon or a general surgeon with extensive training in the technique. The laparoscopic approach makes use of up to six small (1-2 cm) incisions to accommodate a telescopic lens with attached camera and various grasping and dissection instruments. The colon is immobilized and resection is accomplished by visualization through the laparoscope. When the resected colon is ready to be removed, one of the small incisions is extended to “bring out” the resected colon.
• Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Nephrectomy
  Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy is an innovative procedure that allows surgeons to remove the cancerous kidneys through a tiny incision. While kidney removal previously required a 12- to 18-inch incision, this new procedure performed at the Saint Vincent Cancer Care Center minimizes the incision size as well as pain and the risk of complications. The required hospital stay is also reduced by this new procedure from five to seven days to as little as two. With this procedure, patients can resume normal activities within one to two weeks. This hand-assisted procedure enables the surgeon to feel and manipulate the cancerous kidney and surrounding tissue, resulting in a thorough surgical intervention with the benefits of minimal incision size and internal organ exposure.
• Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
  Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a procedure used to remove tumors of the adrenal glands, such as Conn Syndrome, Pheochromocytoma, Cushing's Syndrome, and Bilateral Adrenal Hyperplasia. Prior to this innovative technique, these tumors were removed through a long incision in the loin or abdomen. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy involves only 0.5 to 1.5 cm incisions. These smaller incisions reduce the patient's pain after surgery, the hospital stay, blood loss, and scarring.
• Thoracoscopy
  A thoracoscopy, or pleuroscopy, is a procedure used to assess lung cancer. During the procedure a surgeon inserts an endoscope through two or three small incisions in the chest wall to view the chest cavity and the lungs. The procedure allows the surgeon to view any suspicious tissue and take samples. The procedure takes between two and four hours. Performing a thoracoscopy instead of an invasive surgical lung biopsy reduces complications, pain, hospital stay, and recovery time.

For more information
For information on the Saint Vincent surgeons who perform these laparoscopic procedures, please call Ask-A-Nurse at 814/452-5500 or 800/326-8080.