The Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Surgery Department employs state-of-the-art technology and procedures to provide the highest quality of care to the patients at Licking Memorial Hospital.  Whether an individual requires inpatient or outpatient care, the goal of the Surgery Department is to implement practices that reduce pain and expedite recovery time.  With this in mind, the Department continuously expands access to the most advanced healthcare treatments and technologies currently available in the industry.

Recently, LMH acquired the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System, which optimizes the capabilities of the surgeon’s eyes and hands with robotic-assisted procedures.  The technology allows LMH to increase the minimally invasive surgeries available to patients, such as hernia repair – a procedure previously performed through a large open incision.  Minimally invasive surgery refers to procedures that are completed through tiny incisions resulting in less damage to the body than traditional open surgeries, reduced pain, faster recovery times, and shorter hospital stays.  

With robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon controls the instruments from a console.  The console delivers a 3D high-definition view of the surgery field, which is magnified 10 times beyond what the human eye can see.  The instruments move like a human hand with a greater range of motion, improving the surgeon’s dexterity.  The system’s built-in tremor-filtration technology assists the surgeon to move the instruments with smooth precision.  Due to the enhanced accuracy of the system, patients experience less blood loss, decreased damage to skin, muscles and tissue, reduced risk of infection, and smaller, less visible scars.  The da Vinci Surgical System is primarily used for hernia repair, cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), prostate surgery and colorectal surgery.  Some urogynecology and general surgery procedures also utilize robotic-assisted surgery.

Recently, a urogynecologist and two urologists, who are proficient in using the da Vinci robot, joined LMHS.  With the addition of the specialists, the LMH Surgery Department is now able to offer additional urology, prostate, and urogynecology procedures to patients.  Urology is a specialty which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract and urogential system, which includes the organs used in the production and excretion of urine, as well as the reproductive organs of men.  The LMH Surgery Department performs a variety of urology procedures, including bladder repair, vasectomy and cystoscopy, a test that uses a small scope to look inside the bladder and urethra to locate and treat problems in these areas.  Prostatectomy is a surgery conducted to partially or completely remove the prostate, most often to treat cancer.  The traditional method of the procedure involves the surgeon making an 8- to 10-inch incision below the belly.  However, the procedure could be performed using laparoscopy or robotic-assisted surgery.  Other urology surgeries that could use the new da Vinci Surgical System include nephrectomy (the removal of one or both of the kidneys) and ueretroplasty (reconstruction or replacement of the urethra).

Urogynecology is a medical subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that focuses on treating pelvic floor conditions, such as weak bladder or pelvic muscles, reproductive issues, urinary incontinence, chronic bladder discomfort, fistulas, and pelvic organ prolapse.  Pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder training, fluid and diet management, medication, and electrical stimulation can be used to treat pelvic conditions; however, surgical procedures can be performed if other treatment methods do not improve the condition.  For example, surgery to repair tissues surrounding the pelvic organs can correct pelvic organ prolapse, a condition that occurs when the tissue and muscles of the pelvic floor no longer support the pelvic organs resulting in a drop from their normal position.

Last year, Licking Memorial Vascular Surgery was formed to provide greater access to vascular health care for the residents of Licking County.  In collaboration with Surgical Interventions, Licking Memorial Vascular Surgery offers state-of-the art vascular care services to treat conditions that affect the circulatory system, primarily those of the arteries and veins.  As a specialty, vascular surgery utilizes minimally invasive techniques or open surgical intervention, depending on the patient’s medical condition.  The addition of Licking Memorial Vascular Surgery enables LMH to provide 24-hour vascular care to patients.  Surgeries are performed in the vascular operating room (OR) at LMH.  The vascular OR is specially designed to allow for greater visibility and precision for the delicate procedures executed by the surgeons.

A wide range of procedures including ear, nose and throat; obstetrics and gynecology; urology; orthopedic; opthalmology; podiatry; plasti/reconstructive; and general surgery, are performed in the LMH Surgery Department.  Using the most advanced technology and procedures, the highly-skilled physicians and medical staff work to heal and manage patients’ pain ,so that they can progress to the next phase of recovery, whether admittance to the Hospital or returning home.  Surgeries are performed at LMH in the John & Mary Alford Pavilion and at 2000 Tamarack Road.  Surgery suites at both facilities are equipped with the latest technologies and aim to promote healing and respect patient privacy.