The Department of Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center
Offering the State’s Lowest Surgical Mortality Rate
Monmouth Medical Center: A History of Surgical Firsts
For more than 60 years, Monmouth Medical Center has been a leader in surgical services, earning a statewide reputation for excellence in the field. Throughout its history, the hospital's highly skilled team of surgeons has quickly adopted the latest surgical innovations — and this pioneering spirit has set the stage for bringing the most advanced minimally invasive procedures to the region.
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National and Regional Surgical Firsts
One of the first in the country to begin tracking all major surgical complications and outcomes 10 years ago.
Lowest surgical mortality in New Jersey (0.2 percent at MMC vs. 1.0 percent statewide).
First in the region to offer protocol-tested sentinel lymph node procedure — an alternative to major surgery in determining whether a woman’s breast cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.
First in the region to perform awake craniotomy with cortical mapping for tumors.
Over the past four decades, there have been incredible advances in the field of surgery, and many of these accomplishments have been achieved in teaching environments such as Monmouth. Advances occur in teaching hospitals because physicians are in a position to take part in important clinical research, with resident physicians working closely alongside them as part of their educational experience. In fact, Monmouth Medical Center became one of the first hospitals in the country to track major surgical complications and outcomes 10 years ago.
As surgeons and teachers, Monmouth Medical Center’s dedicated team of surgical specialists is constantly challenged to stay current in their fields. And because of this commitment to teaching, Monmouth always has been able to attract the top physicians in their fields who want to work in an academic environment.
That’s why Monmouth Medical Center became a leader in presenting multiple second opinions from multidisciplinary panels in breast cancer. Multiple opinions frequently change what’s done surgically. And that’s why Monmouth is the leader for minimally invasive surgeries for conditions including morbid obesity, severe heartburn and benign and malignant colon and kidney disease, as well as highly advanced chest surgeries including laparoscopic esophagogastrectomy and video assisted thoracotomy (VATS). Here’s a look at some of these advanced procedures.
The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery: Bringing the Most Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery to the Region
In April 1990, Monmouth Medical Center performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (minimally invasive gall bladder removal) in the state. Laparoscopic surgery continues to progress at a remarkable pace since this breakthrough, and today, the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center has brought cutting-edge surgical treatment options for morbid obesity, severe heartburn, diseases of the spleen, benign and malignant kidney and colon disease and a host of other disorders to the central New Jersey region. Through the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Monmouth, these minimally invasive approaches are accomplishing traditional surgical goals while delivering less pain, faster recovery and lower wound complication rates.
The Leader for Minimally Invasive Surgeries
First in the state to perform laparoscopic gastric bypass.
More laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures performed — nearly 700 — than any other hospital in the state.
First Bariatric Surgery Center in the region.
Lowest complication rate in New Jersey for bariatric surgery and one of the lowest in the nation at less than 1 percent.
Highest volume of anti-reflux surgery in New Jersey.
First in the region to perform laparoscopic solid organ removal and the first to perform minimally invasive complex hernia repair, including ventral hernia and inguinal hernia repair.
Lowest conversion rate from laparoscopic to open colorectal surgery in the region — 4 percent at MMC vs. 15 percent nationally.
First in the state invited to broadcast live, or real time, laparoscopic colon surgery to a meeting of the American College of Surgeons.
Minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, surgery is performed through several tiny openings with the aid of a viewing scope known as an endoscopic camera. Advantages of the minimally invasive vs. traditional approach to surgery include less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries. Additionally, because laparoscopic procedures use much smaller incisions, scarring is minimalized and the risk of wound infection or abdominal hernia, which can result from larger incisions, is greatly reduced.
About our Advanced Procedures
The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Monmouth offers patients advanced laparoscopic procedures, including:
· Colectomy (bowel resection)
· Gastric bypass (weight reduction surgery)
· Nissen fundoplication (GERD/heartburn surgery)
· Hernia repair (inguinal, ventral, hiatal and para-esophageal)
· Nephrectomy (removal of the kidney)
· Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)
· Rectopexy (repair of rectal prolapse)
· Adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland)
· Esophogectomy
· Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
These state-of-the-art techniques undoubtedly improve the quality of life for patients. By healing quicker and beginning therapy and rehabilitation sooner, these individuals are on the road to recovery within a matter of days — if not hours — after their surgical procedure.
About the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center Team
At Monmouth Medical Center, the indications and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery are carefully determined by the mature judgment of experienced, board-certified surgeons. Monmouth’s Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery offers surgeons who rank among the nation’s most experienced advanced laparoscopic practitioners — and this experience allows them to tailor the procedure to the patient rather than the patient to the procedure. And because the latest technical tools are necessary for state-of-the-art performance, Monmouth’s surgical suites are equipped with the most advanced laparoscopes, video cameras, light sources and other specially designed surgical instruments.
The Institute for Advanced Reconstructive Surgery: Restoring Form and Function
Monmouth Medical Center is committed to providing an advanced, multidisciplinary team approach to reconstructive surgery and is an international leader in nerve transplant surgery, drawing partially paralyzed patients from a dozen countries around the world. Adults and children from locales as far away as Australia and Gaza have traveled to Monmouth for reconstructive nerve surgery.
An International Leader in Nerve Transplant Surgery
Pioneered nerve transplant surgery for stroke patients.
One of only two nerve transplant centers in the entire country.
Only peripheral nerve paralysis treatment program in New Jersey.
Patients from around the world, including Australia, Ireland, Mexico and Gaza.
Featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Good Morning America and Discovery Channel.
Monmouth is one of only two nerve transplant centers in the country and has pioneered nerve transplant surgery for stroke patients. And Monmouth has the only peripheral nerve paralysis treatment program in New Jersey. Surgeons take an individualized approach to each case, carefully formulating a treatment plan based on the expertise of each appropriate specialty.
The Institute for Advanced Reconstructive Surgery offers patients the state of the art in reconstructive surgery for congenital and acquired disfigurement, including:
- Upper and Lower Extremity Reconstruction, stressing nerve grafting and transplantation, including brachial plexus , palsies and digit repair or replacement.
- Head and Neck Reconstruction , reversal of facial nerve palsy and repair of craniofacial deformities, including jaw reconstruction
- Breast Reconstruction, stressing free tissue transfer
Advanced Breast Surgery — A Multidisciplinary Approach That Attracts High Quality Specialists
Through the renowned Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center, Monmouth offers advanced breast surgery led by a team of the region's finest general and plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Monmouth-affiliated surgeons were the first in the region to offer protocol-tested sentinel lymph node procedure — an alternative to major surgery in determining whether a woman's breast cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.
At Monmouth Medical Center, results of a nearly 10-year study of women treated with breast conservation surgery have revealed a local recurrence rate of only one out of 256 patients. The emphasis of the hospital’s breast surgery program is on breast conservation surgery for women with Stage I or Stage II cancers. Internationally, studies show a 5 percent to 30 percent local recurrence rate for breast conservation surgery, but at Monmouth, surgeons have had a 0.4 percent recurrent rate — representing just one patient.
This remarkable success rate is attributed to a requirement at Monmouth that surgeons ensure a .5-centimeter margin of uninvolved breast tissue around every border of the tumor. Additionally, breast conservation surgery usually is followed by radiation therapy to eradicate any residual cancer.
To Learn More
For more information on surgical services, or for a referral to a Monmouth-affiliated surgeon, call 1-888-SBHS-123 (1-888-724-7123).
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