Southwest Health is proud to announce a new Colorectal Surgery service, offering advanced, comprehensive care for patients with a wide range of colorectal conditions. This new service is a significant expansion of Southwest Health’s commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to the community and surrounding areas.
The program is led by a highly skilled colorectal surgeon and team who are committed to using the latest surgical techniques and technologies to serve patients. The goal is to provide effective treatment plans that improve outcomes and enhance recovery times for patients.
Colorectal surgery services include:
- Abdominal procedures of the small bowel, colon, and rectum that are minimally invasive, or laparoscopic. Patients with complex surgical history might require an open “traditional” abdominal surgery.
- Anorectal procedures are often performed on a same-day or ambulatory basis. Some of these procedures can be performed laparoscopically, or transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). Other simple and painless anorectal procedures can be performed in the office without anesthesia such as rubber band ligation and/or sclero-injection of hemorrhoids.
- The procedures and therapies for diagnosing, treating, and managing colorectal and pelvic floor disorders.
The Colorectal Surgery service aims to provide patients with excellent care in a compassionate and supportive environment. Additionally, Southwest Health’s network of specialists and support teams ensures that patients will receive outstanding and comprehensive care, from pre-surgery consultations to post-operative rehabilitation without having to travel far from home.
Dr. Alberto Vitela, MD, MS, leads the team as a dedicated general and colorectal surgeon passionate about exceptional patient care. After completing his general surgery residency, Dr. Vitela advanced his expertise with a fellowship at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, home to the country’s first robotic colorectal surgery grogram, and later completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Cook County Hospitals in Chicago, Illinois, one of the best programs in the country where graduates of the program become leaders in their field. Along with treating patients, Dr. Alberto Vitela has researched with the University of Chicago in a NIH funded program in circular DNA for the detection of colon cancer.
