Press Releases

RAPID RESPONSE TEAM READY FOR PATIENTS WITH NEW BREAST LUMP OR ABNORMAL MAMMOGRAM

Goal to Diagnose and Treat Breast Cancer Within 14 Days

[Beaumont, Texas—PREVITY Clinic—October 1] — PREVITY – Clinic for Surgical Care announced today the launch of PREVITY – Breast HELP Center, the first of its kind in Southeast Texas. PREVITY – Breast HELP Center offers patients rapid access to a single health-care team to coordinate, organize and navigate breast cancer diagnostic testing, treatment, education and support. Approximately 215,000 patients in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

“Every one of us is touched in some way by breast cancer. We know detecting breast cancer quickly and treating it surgically improves health outcomes. We are excited about offering such an innovative model of care, as we establish PREVITY Clinic’s reputation as a leader in cancer care in Southeast Texas,” said Dr. Garrett K. Peel, Breast Cancer Surgeon at PREVITY—Clinic for Surgical Care. “Our goal is to diagnose and treat the patient’s breast cancer within 14 days of their initial appointment, which greatly surpasses American and European treatment standards.”

All aspects of the patient’s diagnostic journey will be streamlined and organized to reduce wait time for breast cancer diagnosis and increase access to advanced surgical technologies. PREVITY – Breast HELP Center offers the only “single pass,” 360-degree minimally invasive breast biopsy procedure in Southeast Texas. Patients will find one health-care team that will eliminate duplication of services. Dr. Peel, who trained at the world-famous Mayo Clinic, works closely with the patient’s primary care doctor to assemble an expert team for each patient to include a nurse navigator and leading breast cancer medical and radiation oncologists.

“Our team approach puts the patient first and creates value during a time that can be confusing, and met with a lot of anxiety and long waits. We prevent patients from falling through the cracks by coordinating quality, timely care,” said Dr. Peel.

Please contact Gayle Rhoads, Director of Patient Relations and Communication, at 409-835-9500 for questions
or media queries.

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FIRST SINGLE INCISION LAPAROSCOPIC GALLBLADDER SURGERY PERFORMED IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Dr. Garrett K. Peel Removes Gallbladder through Belly Button

New SILS™ Procedure Potentially Leaves No Visible Scar

[Beaumont, Texas—Baptist Hospital—September 23] — PREVITY – Clinic for Surgical Care announced today the successful completion of Dr. Garrett K. Peel’s first surgery using the next generation SILS™ procedure. The cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, was performed this morning and was the first of its kind to be completed in Southeast Texas.

“We are thrilled to offer our patients the most advanced form of laparoscopic cholecystectomy,” said Dr. Peel, Senior Surgical Consultant, PREVITY – Clinic for Surgical Care. “This procedure put us at the forefront of a new kind of surgery that continues to transform the minimally invasive arena, resulting in even better experiences for patients.”

According to Dr. Garrett K. Peel, the patient is making an excellent recovery and will likely be home this evening. Dr. Peel said the patient may not even see evidence of the surgery, except for a small scar at the belly button. One of the major advantages of the SILS™ procedure is that it utilizes only one access point, through the patient’s umbilicus, or belly button, ultimately resulting in the potential for no visible scar. By comparison, traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomies involve four ½-inch or smaller incisions that may leave scars. Currently, more than 80 percent of all cholecystectomies performed in the Unites States are done laparoscopically with multiple access points. Using the next generation SILS™ procedure, Dr. Peel can make a single 20mm incision through the belly button minimizing the pain that may be associated with the additional sites of entry.

Please direct questions and media queries to Gayle Rhoads, Director of Patient Relations and Communication at

409-835-9500.

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TO BE RELEASED ON
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

Clinical Update

FIRST MINIMALLY INVASIVE HEMORRHOID SURGERY PERFORMED IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Dr. Garrett K. Peel Performs Less Traumatic, Less Painful Hemorrhoid Surgery

Baptist Hospital, Beaumont, Texas—"This innovative surgery offers a definitive treatment that is safe and quick for the countless patients suffering from internal hemorrhoids. The surgery is associated with less complications and a faster return to life and work compared to the traditional, more painful procedure," said Dr. Peel.

It is estimated that 50-percent of Americans will, at some point in their lives, suffer from hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur naturally in the body and are "custom cushions" in the anal canal where blood flows in and out to swell or shrink the tissue to provide continence. Hemorrhoids can enlarge over time with straining, pregnancy and obesity. As they continue to enlarge they can prolapse or protrude from the anus.
Trans-anal Hemorrhoidal De-Arterialization (THD) is a new procedure that uses a doppler to locate the terminating branches of the hemorrhoidal arteries. Once the artery is located, Dr. Peel uses an absorbable suture to ligate or "tie-off" the arterial blood flow. The venous "out flow" remains to "shrink" the cushion. This is done without excision of tissue. Dr. Peel will also perform a hemorrhoidopexy to repair the rectal prolapse when necessary. The repair restores and "lifts" the tissue back to its anatomical position.
The entire procedure is performed above the dentate line where there is minimal discomfort. The procedure is offered as an outpatient surgery and requires no bowel preparation. The procedure is clinically proven, safe and effective, with minimal postoperative pain. Patients are back to normal activities within 24-48 hours.

Dr. Garrett Peel is a recent graduate of the Mayo Clinic and practices general and laparoscopic surgery, as well as colon and rectal surgery in Beaumont, Texas.

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