Colorectal Surgery Brochure - The GW Medical Faculty Associates

Understanding
Laparoscopic & Robotic
Colorectal Surgery
Dr. Vincent Obias, MD, MS
Director, Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery
Associate Professor of Surgery
Board Certified in Colon & Rectal Surgery,
and General Surgery
2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: 202.741.3243
Web:
www.gwdocs.com
Parking
The Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery is located
at The GW Medical Faculty Associates building
at 22nd & I Streets, NW. Parking is accessed from
I Street just east of the building entrance.
© GW Medical Faculty Associates 2010
Metro
The Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery is located
one block from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop
(Orange & Blue lines).
202.741.3243
www.gwdocs.com
202.741.3243 • www.gwdocs.com
202.741.3243 • www.gwdocs.com
Vincent J. Obias, MD specializes in laparoscopic and robotic colon and rectal
surgery for neoplastic and benign disease, transanal endoscopic microsurgery,
inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and
constipation and functional anorectal disorders.
The Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery at The GW Medical Faculty Associates treats
patients for colon and rectal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, colon polyps and
other disorders like Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Diverticulitis. Most of these
surgeries are performed with minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques.
Dr. Obias has written articles on a variety of subjects including rectal cancer, postoperative recovery, trauma-critical care, and transplant surgery. He has presented
papers at the Minimally Invasive Robotics Association national conference (MIRA),
the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons national conference, the Surgical
Infection Society joint meeting in Europe, the Society of American Gastrointestinal
Endoscopic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.
Traditional, open colorectal surgery requires a long midline incision to the abdomen.
Minimally invasive surgery is performed through tiny incisions near the navel which
make way for tiny lights, cameras and microsurgical instruments.
Dr. Obias completed a subspecialty residency in Colon & Rectal Surgery at The
Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Colon and Rectal
Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. He performed his internship
and General Surgery residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed
a Masters in Physiology and earned his medical degree at the Medical College of
Virginia. Dr. Obias earned his Bachelor’s in Biology at James Madison University.
Minimally invasive procedures reduce risk of complications, as they lessen scarring
and pain, and abbreviate hospital stays. Most patients are able to return to normal
activities more quickly than patients who undergo open procedures.
Robot-assisted surgery offers still more advantages by enhancing the surgeon’s
precision and control. The robot is especially helpful in treating certain tumors which
lie in sensitive tissue near the sphincter muscle, which affects urinary and sexual
function. It also allows the surgeon to operate in areas of the body which are more
difficult to access, reducing the need for traditional, large incisions.
The Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery at The GW Medical Faculty Associates is proud
to be the first in Metro Washington to perform robotic colectomies, and it continues
to perform more of these procedures than any facility in the region.