Minimally Invasive Surgery Patient Stories

Every year our physicians and staff care for many patients. We're proud to share some of their stories with you.
Bariatric Surgery
Cardiac Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
Urology
Pediatric General Surgery
Pediatric Urology

Bariatric Surgery

90 Pounds Gone …. and Counting
Karen has lost 90 pounds just four months after having laparoscopic duodenal switch surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Also, her asthma has disappeared, and her knee and ankle are feeling better, making it easier to walk and exercise.

Cardiac Surgery

Breakthrough Closed-Chest Heart Bypass Surgery Speeds Recovery
David Wunch traveled from Tulsa to Chicago to have totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery (TECAB), an advanced way to perform bypass surgery without opening the chest.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery an Easier Way
Sharon Jackson can speak from experience when comparing closed-chest totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery (TECAB) to traditional, open procedures because she has had both types of bypass surgeries. To Sharon, TECAB is the "better way to go, most definitely."

Thoracic Surgery

Teen Finds Relief Through Minimally Invasive Surgery
Hyperhidrosis, a condition that results in excessive sweating, caused daily problems for young Ashley. Thoracic surgeon Mark Ferguson, MD, treated Ashley's condition using a minimally invasive approach performed with thin instruments.

Urology

Robotics Aid Surgeons in Operating Room
Chicago resident Christine Fulara, 70, had a cancer-bearing kidney removed at UCMC in 2002. She went home two days after the surgery and was out walking four days later -- trying to convince her doubting neighbors that she really did have major surgery.

Pediatric General Surgery

Minimally Invasive Approach Used to Remove Liver Cyst from Tiny Infant
A large growth called a choledochal cyst threatened baby Anushka's liver and bile duct function. Donald Liu, MD, PhD, used an advanced minimally invasive technique to remove the cyst and reconstruct her bile duct -- all done through very small incisions.

Pediatric Urology

Robot-Assisted Surgery Repairs Complex Kidney Condition in Teen
When Justin Ham was diagnosed with a complex case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction and horseshoe kidney, his parents searched for a surgeon who was skilled in minimally invasive urologic surgery. Their search brought them to Mohan S. Gundeti, MD, director of pediatric urology. Dr. Gundeti successfully treated Justin's conditions using a robot-assisted approach, which resulted in a faster recovery and minimal scarring.

Robotic Surgery Helps Girl With Neurogenic Bladder
Soon after Aaliyah Dellar was born, her bladder stopped growing. She was diagnosed with neurogenic bladder, a condition that caused an uncomfortable feeling that she always had to urinate. Aaliyah needed surgery to treat the embarrassing condition that was interfering with her life. Rather than operate through a long, 6-inch incision, Mohan S. Gundeti, MD, treated the problem with robotic surgery, an advanced surgical method that left only tiny scars.

Robotic Surgery Marks Chicago Breakthrough for Pediatric Patients
On Jan. 7, 2008, ten-year-old Jaime Bazan returned to school and sports activities -- a monumental feat considering that only 11 days earlier, he became the first Chicago pediatric patient to undergo robot-assisted urologic surgery.