Men and women suffering with pain or a bulge in the abdomen or groin area have two opportunities this spring to meet with a surgeon for a free hernia screening.
Carlos Gonzalez, MD, FACS, will screen people and offer hernia treatment information during 15-minute appointments. Screenings will take place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. March 12 at St. Catherine Hospital, 4320 Fir St., Suite 410, East Chicago; and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at his office, 10110 Donald Powers Drive, Suite 202, Munster. Call 219-836-3477 to schedule an appointment.
“My main goal when I became a doctor was to help the community,” Gonzalez said. “I want our residents to have access to healthcare. I want to help people get better. Hernias can become a problem if they are not treated in a timely manner. Through screenings, we can catch hernias at an early stage and fix them.”
Gonzalez uses the da Vinci Surgical System, a minimally invasive robotic-assisted option, to repair hernias. The procedure results in a quicker and safer recovery.
“As a healthcare system, we provide high-quality care with this technology,” Gonzalez said.
Its magnified 3D, high-definition camera allows Gonzalez to see 10 times better than the naked eye, leading to a precise approach. Wrist articulated instruments allow greater access to the body than typical surgical instruments.
“That translates into a better technique with less risk of operative complications,” Gonzalez said.
Along with a lower risk of operative and postoperative complications, patients who undergo hernia surgery via the da Vinci Surgical System experience less pain and have a faster recovery. Most go home the same day they have their procedure, and they do not need narcotics for pain control.
Common hernia symptoms include a bulge or pain in the abdomen or groin area, or tenderness on a scar from a previous surgery, such as gallbladder removal.
Gary resident Ezequiel Morales, a 31-year-old married father of two, sought help from Gonzalez after injuring himself on the job while lifting heavy equipment. He underwent outpatient hernia surgery Jan. 10. Gonzalez performed a robotic ventral hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair and right inguinal hernia repair.
Morales said the surgery brought relief, and he would recommend it to others experiencing similar pain.
“It’s worth it,” he said. “I have peace of mind now.”
For information about robotic-assisted surgery, visit COMHS.org/services/surgery/robotic-assisted-surgery.