Minimally Invasive
Treatments

If you had surgery more than 10 years ago, your experience might be markedly different. You might end up with a large incision, wake up with a tube in your nose that drained your stomach, be kept in bed for several days, had food withheld, and had the main component of your pain management include opiates alone, which has many adverse effects on the body.

Over the past decade, the surgeons at Huntington Colorectal Surgeons in collaboration with Huntington Hospital teams have pioneered and led advanced surgical recovery using techniques such as prehabilitation (getting the body ready for the main event of surgery ahead of time), specialized nutritional drinks that boost the immune system, avoiding starvation prior to surgery, specific preoperative bowel preparation, and minimally invasive surgery.

In the operating room, we work closely with our anesthesia colleagues to help minimize opiate needs by having nerve blocks performed with long-acting local anesthetics, limiting fluid overload, and carefully monitoring organ system function. Postoperatively, we continue with opiate sparing techniques using multimodal analgesia (multiple pain medications that block pain receptors at multiple pathways) and allow patients to be out of bed early and start on a diet often the first night of surgery. Many of our patients have very limited pain, tolerate their diets, and go home in 1 to 3 days after a surgery that would have kept them in the hospital for at least 7 days just 10 years ago.

Our practitioners are fully trained in using these state-of-the-art technologies, and you can trust us for premium care.

Our colorectal specialists use the state-of-the-art Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Pasadena to treat fecal incontinence.

The sacral nerves control the movement of the pelvis and the lower limbs. They are responsible for the functioning of the pelvic floor and the opening/closing of the rectum. If the sacral nerve is damaged, then the pelvic floor starts to dysfunction, leading to fecal incontinence.

In Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy, electrical pulses are directed at the sacral nerves. These pulses control the contraction and expansion of the pelvic floor and anal sphincters, preventing fecal leakage.

The procedure starts with local anesthesia to numb the lower part of the body. The first stage of the procedure starts with the insertion of a thin lead wire near the sacral foramen. Vibrations are sent through the wire and you are asked to confirm where you experience the slight pulling sensations. Based on your inputs, the position of the wire is adjusted so that the vibrations are felt in the anorectal region.

The lead wire is then moved deeper into the right or left buttock (this depends on your unique requirements) and brought out through the skin, where it will be connected to an external stimulation device. The vibrations from this device correct the erroneous neural impulses that cause your pelvic floor or anorectal muscles to malfunction. After the procedure, the settings of the device are adjusted to suit your needs and comfort.

This device is a temporary solution that will be used for about 2-3 weeks, to verify whether you benefit from sacral nerve therapy. After the trial period, you will be asked to return to our Pasadena colorectal surgical facility for a check-up. Your fecal incontinence symptoms should have decreased in frequency by at least 50% for you to be eligible for stage two of the treatment.

In stage two, the temporary device is removed and the permanent neurostimulator is implanted. Using minimally-invasive robotic surgery, we make a small pocket just below the surface of the skin. The neurostimulator is implanted in this pocket and a small lead is connected to this device.
The neurostimulator we use is the Axonics System, a cutting-edge technology designed specifically for sacral nerve therapy. The titanium-ceramic construction protects it from damage inside the body, keeping you safe. The coin-size device is inconspicuous and has a functional life of 15 years.

The neurostimulator comes with a discreet patient control programmer, that is easy to use and can be tucked away in your pocket. With this, you can control the strength of the electrical impulses, customizing your therapy as you heal. The wireless charging system makes the device easy-to-use and you only need to charge it once a month.

Once the procedure is complete, our doctors teach you how to use the remote control and adjust the settings as necessary. You will be asked to come in for post-op checks to ensure the therapy is producing the desired results.

The neurostimulator, when switched on, is completely pain-free and you feel only gentle vibrations near the anorectal region. You will notice an immediate difference in your ability to control your bowels and you’ll be able to return to your normal routine in no time.
If you have any questions about the procedure or require advice on lifestyle changes to prevent fecal incontinence, feel free to speak to our surgeons. You can also visit our facility for more information about Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Pasadena, California.