SRC is an independent, nonprofit patient safety organization that has accredited top healthcare providers worldwide including hospitals, freestanding outpatient facilities, surgeons and medical professionals since 2003. SRC accreditations are unique as they acknowledge both the facility and physicians who deliver exceptional patient care. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest standard of care to our patients.

Kenneth Cutshall, MD

John (Trey) Roebertson, III, MD

This accomplishment is a testament to Dr. Cutshall and Dr. Robertson’s steadfast commitment to not only ensuring optimal outcomes and safety, but also delivering an unrivaled patient experience.

What are the requirements of accreditation?

Master Surgeon in Robotic Surgery is evaluated based on rigorous and proven standards set by SRC. Accreditation requirements encompass physicians’ surgical expertise and experience, the standardization of clinical pathways, consultative services, equipment and instruments, and patient education.

What should patients know about this accreditation?

Patients can take comfort in knowing that Dr. Cutshall and Dr. Robertson have has received third-party verification for their patient care efforts. SRC’s strict evaluation guidelines prioritize patient safety and continuous quality improvement.

Why would patients prefer an accredited provider over one without accreditation?

SRC accreditation is a clear indicator to patients that Dr. Cutshall and Dr. Robertson are is committed to a higher standard of care. Studies have shown that SRC-accredited providers achieve reduced risk of complications, faster recovery times and better outcomes.

Dr. Kenneth Cutshall and Dr. John (Trey) Robertson, III, are with Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN. They perform procedures at Franklin Woods Hospital, a SRC-accredited Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. They also do surgeries at East Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center and Johnson City Medical Center.  

The post Drs. Cutshall and Robertson Earn SRC’s Master Surgeons in Robotic Surgery Accreditation first appeared on Premier Surgical.

Dale Johnson is a retiree living in Lenior City. During a routine colonoscopy through his primary care physician, several polyps were discovered in his colon. Fortunately, the polyps were benign, meaning they were not cancerous. To be safe, Johnson underwent surgery to remove them and is thankful for the compassionate and expert colon care he received from Colon and Rectal Surgeon Dr. Sung Lee at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville.

Dale had surgery to remove a colon polyp to decrease his chance of cancer.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure where the provider uses a long lighted tube to look at your rectum and entire colon with a small video camera. The provider looks for polyps or other abnormal areas that they may remove for further testing. This test usually requires sedation.

What is a Polyp?

Polyps are growths made up of fleshy clumps of tissue that form on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Small polyps are rarely cancerous, but over time, the cells in some polyp types can change and become cancer. The longer a polyp is there and the more it grows, the more likely this is to happen.

When Polyps Are Found

In spring of 2023, Johnson had a routine colonoscopy with his primary care provider. He has undergone this screening every five years since the age of 50, but nothing has been discovered before.

This time, the doctor discovered four polyps that needed to be removed. During the test, the doctor removed three of the four polyps; colonoscopies are both diagnostic and can allow for intervention if the doctor finds anything out of the ordinary. One of Johnson’s polyps required a more extensive surgery, so he was referred to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

There, Johnson met Sung Lee, MD, a colorectal surgeon with Premier Surgical Associates at Fort Sanders Regional. A biopsy revealed his growths were not cancerous, news to which his family rejoiced. However, he wasn’t out of the woods yet.

Sidestepping Cancer

Dr. Sung Lee, Colon and Rectal Surgeon

“He told me I’d need surgery and that the growth needed to come out, whether it was cancerous or not,” Johnson recalls.

Dr. Lee explains, “This surgical procedure was recommended to make sure there were no cancerous cells underneath. If you leave polyps for a long time, they can become cancerous.”

“Most colorectal cancers start as polyps,” says Dr. Lee. “These are growths caused by changes in the cells that line the inside of the colon or rectum. Over time, the polyps can become cancerous. Finding and removing polyps while they’re small may stop cancer from ever forming.”

Colorectal cancers most often start when cells in a polyp start growing abnormally. As a cancerous tumor grows, it can invade the deeper layers of the colon or rectal wall. Over time, the cancer can grow beyond the colon or rectum and into nearby organs or lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Regular screenings can prevent cancer from forming or detect it in its early stages.

At Fort Sanders Regional

In May 2023, Johnson underwent a robotic-assisted colectomy to remove one polyp approximately 20 mm in size. He received a few small incisions on the right side of his abdomen and spent one night in the hospital.

Dr. Lee explains this procedure included removing 29 cm of the patient’s colon, which is called a resection (and the remaining ends are connected together for regular bowel function).

“Using robot guided technology, I go in with an instrument and make only a few incisions. Patients do very well with this minimally invasive technique. No big incisions are needed, and I do everything on the inside. The risk of complications, bleeding, and developing a hernia is much lower, the hospital stay is shorter, and often the patient has less pain during recovery.”

“I met Dr. Lee several times before the surgery,” Johnson says. “He told me a lot of things that could happen, including the risks of surgery. He told me they were going to operate as if it were cancerous, and that he’d take enough out so it likely wouldn’t show up later.”

Johnson had no complications or issues with recovery. “I liked Dr. Lee a lot – he explained everything very well,” he says. “I was treated extremely well, and all the nurses and everyone at the hospital were great.”

“He did great. He was a very nice guy,” says Dr. Lee. “When a patient is doing well, I let them go home as soon as possible. To be cleared, they must be able to eat and drink without nausea or vomiting. I check on their pain level and bowel function before they go home.”

Recovered and Feeling Great

Johnson is feeling great and in good health. He is following up with his primary care provider for his next colonoscopy to stay on top of any future issues. He enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending their ball games.

“I’m 74, and I got to take care of what I got left,” he says with a laugh. “I had my appendix out when I was 15, and boy that left a big scar. These are tiny scars you wouldn’t even notice.” He would heartily recommend Dr. Lee and Fort Sanders Regional to anyone who needs surgery or getting checked out.

Importance of Screenings

According to Dr. Lee, polyps in the colorectal area are very common. “Most Americans have them. That’s why we recommend screening colonoscopies so we can keep watch or remove any cell tissue before it becomes a problem. Most of the time, the polyps can be removed during your colonoscopy, and you don’t need another surgery.”

Although it’s common, many people do not show any symptoms of colon polyps until they become very large. This may cause bleeding, changes in your bowel habits, blood in your stool, or abdominal pain. It’s important to report any of these symptoms to your doctor so they can determine next steps.

The American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advise people at average risk for colorectal cancer start screening at age 45.

Dr. Lee says screenings will be recommended every 10 years or sooner, depending on each individual’s risk for colorectal cancer. “If polyps are present, it could be every five years. If you have multiple polyps, you may be asked to repeat the test every year, every three years, or even every six months.”

Dr. Sung Lee is a fellowship-trained Colon and Rectal Surgeon with Premier Surgical at Fort Sanders Regional in Knoxville, TN. He is board-certified in Colon and Rectal, and General Surgery. To learn more about colon and rectal surgeries, visit Premier Surgical Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The post Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Colon Screenings first appeared on Premier Surgical.

From ITP Diagnosis to Robotic-Assisted Splenectomy: Kathleen’s Journey to Recovery

Kathleen Schipper, a retired flight nurse, has seen a lot throughout her medical career. Her focus on caring for others often resulted in her own health taking a back seat. That had to change after Kathleen was diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a blood disorder where the immune system treats platelets in the blood as foreign and destroys them. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are vital for maintaining the delicate balance between clotting and bleeding in our bloodstream. They ensure that when injuries occur, our body can respond appropriately to minimize blood loss and promote healing. 

“My platelets were so low the doctors couldn’t figure out how I was walking around,” says Kathleen.    

Her initial treatments didn’t seem to be working, and after two rounds of chemotherapy with no improvement in her condition, Kathleen’s doctors suggested removing her spleen might be the best course of action. Since the spleen is responsible for removing damaged platelets, removing the spleen could help keep more platelets circulating in her body.  

A splenectomy for an ITP patient, however, can be a risky procedure due to a higher risk of bleeding, and not every surgeon or facility would be an appropriate fit. After consulting with two other surgeons, Kathleen was referred to Dr. Michael Antiporda with Premier Surgical Associates in Knoxville, TN. 

“When I met with Kathleen and discussed her case with her hematologist, I felt confident that we could help her and that she would be a good candidate for a robotic approach,” explains Dr. Antiporda “The robotic approach would allow us to reduce the amount of time the surgery would take, the time for her to return to her normal life, as well as reduce other associated risks of the surgery.”

About Robotic-assisted Splenectomy

Robotic-assisted splenectomy is a surgical procedure that uses robotic technology to assist the surgeon with removing the spleen. While traditional open surgery and laparoscopic techniques are also used for splenectomy, robotic-assisted surgery offers several potential benefits for both our patients and surgeons:

1. Minimally Invasive: Robotic-assisted surgery is minimally invasive, meaning it uses smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery. Smaller incisions often lead to less postoperative pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker recovery.
2. Enhanced Precision: The robotic system provides surgeons with enhanced precision and control. The robotic arms have a wider range of motion and can perform intricate movements with great precision, allowing for more delicate and complex surgeries.
3. Improved Visualization: Robotic surgery offers 3D high-definition visualization, providing surgeons with a clearer and more detailed view of the surgical site. This improved visualization can be particularly valuable when working in tight spaces, such as around the spleen.
4. Reduced Blood Loss: The precision of the robotic instruments can lead to reduced blood loss during surgery. This is especially important in splenectomy, as minimizing blood loss is a critical aspect of the procedure.
5. Shorter Hospital Stay: Patients who undergo robotic-assisted splenectomy often have a shorter hospital stay compared to open surgery. They may also experience a faster overall recovery and return to normal activities.
6. Less Scarring: Smaller incisions result in smaller scars, which are generally less noticeable and may be more cosmetically appealing than the larger incisions required for open surgery.
7. Reduced Risk of Infection: With smaller incisions, there is typically a reduced risk of surgical site infections.
8. Less Pain and Discomfort: Minimally invasive surgery, including robotic-assisted splenectomy, is generally associated with less postoperative pain and discomfort compared to open surgery.

“When I went to see Dr. Antiporda, I was very impressed with the thoroughness of the office,” Kathleen explains. “He was very informative. We talked about it. He told me point by point what he was going to do, and they were able to get me scheduled sooner than expected.” 

On the day of the surgery, Kathleen was scheduled at 5 a.m. for what could have been a three-hour procedure. There were no complications and the surgery lasted about an hour. 

“She did great,” says Dr. Antiporda. “There was minimal blood loss. We were able to do the surgery with only four incisions, none of which were bigger than about a centimeter. She was able to go home the day after surgery, and her platelet function started to recover very quickly.” 

“I didn’t need one pain pill. I didn’t have one issue with that surgery,” Kathleen smiles. “I felt at ease with Dr. Antiporda. He and his whole staff, his nurse, even the people at the front desk were phenomenal and very, very caring… very accommodating. They answered every question I had. I got more information out of that office about what was going to happen, what to expect… I didn’t have one bit of problem at all. And if I called, I got a call back. Dr. Antiporda has called and checked on me. After the 5 a.m. surgery, he came in at 11 p.m. at night to make sure I was doing okay. I don’t have one negative thing to say about the office or him, and he has a kick butt bedside manner. You don’t see that in many doctors anymore.”

Here at Premier Surgical in Knoxville, we’re grateful for our skilled surgeons and for success stories like Kathleen’s. If you have questions about the advantages of robotic assisted surgery, we can help. Contact us to request an appointment today.

The post From ITP Diagnosis to Robotic-Assisted Splenectomy: Kathleen’s Journey to Recovery first appeared on Premier Surgical.