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Pioneering Surgeon |
Pioneering Surgeon
Hudson County’s first VAT Lobectomy performed at Hoboken UMC
HOBOKEN, NJ, October 13, 2009 --- Hoboken University Medical Center’s Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Nicholas Demos, M.D., P.A., recently performed the first Video-Assisted Thorascopy Lobectomy procedure in Hudson County. The VAT Lobectomy involves the laparoscopic removal of a cancerous or diseased lobe of the lung, which for patients, results in less pain, fewer complications and a quicker return to daily routines.
“The less discomfort, the less stress to the body, the faster the patient is going to recover,” said Dr. Demos, a triple board-certified thoracic, cardiac and vascular surgeon who is considered a pioneer in laparoscopic and minimally accessed thoracic surgical procedures.
“The VAT Lobectomy is just another example of the outstanding care provided by outstanding surgeons who practice at Hoboken UMC,” said CEO Spiros Hatiras. “It’s a great source of pride to be associated with highly-credentialed physicians. Ultimately it’s about improving outcomes and providing better care for our community.”
Hoboken UMC is among a select group of healthcare institutions to adopt the cutting edge procedure; approximately 20 percent of the lung lobectomies in the U.S. are performed using the VAT method. “The procedure is quite innovative,” said Dr. Demos, who practices in Hoboken and Jersey City and is a professor of medicine at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark and the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford.
In a VAT lobectomy, the surgeon will make small incisions between the ribs on the side of the chest and insert a pencil thin laparoscope, which is dramatically different from the long-used method of making a 10-inch incision and spreading the ribs to remove a lobe from the lung. Since the ribs are left undisturbed in a VAT lobectomy, the patient will experience less postoperative pain and a quicker recovery. “The patient’s chemistry suffers much less disturbance than in the open technique,” commented Dr. Demos.
Not every patient is a candidate for the surgery. According to Dr. Demos, patients who present with lung cancer or a serious lung infection may be eligible for the minimally invasive procedure if the lesion or area to be removed is four centimeters or less, there is an absence of previous surgery and no history of pneumonia.
Special training, experience and skills are required to perform this type of surgery. Dr. Demos, on average performs approximately 18 minimally invasive procedures a month, ranging from pericardiectomies to Video-Assisted Transthoracic Hiatal Hernia Hernioplasties, sympathectomies (a new minimally invasive procedure to cure excessive perspiration) and esophageal operations.
The VAT lobectomy is just the latest in minimally invasive procedures offered at Hoboken UMC. According to Head of Surgical Services and General Surgeon Dr. German Costa, Hoboken UMC surgeons regularly perform abdominal, joint and orthopedic, gynecological, vascular, urological and several types of cancer surgeries using minimally invasive techniques — a surgical option not readily available at other Hudson County hospitals.
“When it comes to minimally invasive procedures, it’s like anything in this world, experience counts,” said Dr. Costa. “The more a surgeon practices a certain procedure, the better they’re going to be at that procedure. And the surgeons who practice at Hoboken UMC have a tremendous amount of experience with minimally invasive cases.”
About Hoboken University Medical Center
Hoboken University Medical Center is a 328-bed facility located in the heart of Hoboken. Hoboken UMC recently unveiled a new state-of-the art Emergency Department that delivers more efficient, better care to Hudson area patients. It is the oldest continuing hospital in New Jersey, with some of the area’s best doctors and nurses, the latest in medical technology, and a host of medical specialties to treat people of all ages and ailments. Hoboken UMC holds a Gold Seal of Approval for high quality patient care and safety from the Joint Commission on Health Care, and is a member of the New Jersey Hospital Association.
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