Surgical Services

Overview

Lovelace offers a wide variety of surgical services and state-of-the-art technology to ensure our patient's surgical needs are covered in Albuquerque and Roswell. Our highly skilled team of surgeons remains on the cutting edge of technology and procedures.

Traditional Surgery

Traditional, or open, surgery involves an incision that is made using a scalpel. The surgeon then inserts the instruments and conducts the surgery. In some cases open surgery is preferable to provide the visual information required to completely remove tissues or accurately diagnose a condition, a larger incision may also be required to access a larger area in the body. It's important to discuss your options with your surgeon to find the best option for your care.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery combines your surgeon's understanding of anatomy with cutting-edge technology to treat a multitude of conditions using small incisions and the assistance of imaging. Often minimally invasive surgery offers faster recovery times and reduced rates of infection. It is important to understand that the decision to receive minimally invasive surgery is individualized to the patient and the patient's symptoms. It is important to discuss with your physician whether minimally invasive surgery is right for you.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, control, and flexibility. Robotic surgery offers patients facing surgery many potential benefits over traditional open surgery, including less pain, less scarring, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to daily activities.

Traditional Surgery

Bariatric

We partner with DaVita Medical Group Bariatrics to offer comprehensive bariatric services to help you reach your health goals.

Treatments we offer include:

Cardiac

Heart Hospital of New Mexico's interventional cardiologists are backed by state-of-the-art technology and surgical suites, and have earned a reputation for offering cutting edge vascular care and treatment in the state.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cox Maze
Left Ventricular Assisted Device (LVAD)
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Cardiovascular Surgery

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Limb Salvage
Venous Disease
Transcarotid Artery Revascularization(TCAR)

For more information on our cardiac care and the procedures offered, please our Heart Hospital website.

Ear, Nose and Throat

The Lovelace team is experienced and compassionate physicians, therapists and nurses skillfully treat diseases of the ears, nose, mouth, throat, sinuses and larynx, including hearing loss, problems swallowing or speaking, sinusitis and more.

Gastroenterology

Our services treat patients across the continuum of care, from diagnosis to surgery to post-surgical care and our highly experienced gastroenterologists work to provide you with the best outcomes.
Our providers are backed by the latest technology and qualified nurses and technicians to assure you receive the best care possible.

We treat a broad spectrum of disorders and diseases, including:

General Surgery

At Lovelace we understand surgery can seem scary. Whether you need surgery to repair a hernia, remove a gallbladder or treat colon cancer, our surgeons will sit down and talk with you about your procedure, answer any questions you may have and follow your recovery. Our experienced staff know how to help make sure you are prepared for the day of surgery and what to expect during your recovery. Our goal is to get you back to normal as soon as possible.

Our board-certified surgeons treat a wide range of medical conditions that require surgery, many with minimally invasive techniques. These techniques promise that patients spend less time in the hospital and recover more quickly. The Lovelace surgical group offers treatment for these and other conditions:

Gallstones and gall bladder problems
Hernias, including groin, umbilical and incisional hernias
Colon cancer and polyps
Diverticulitis and other colon conditions
Massive abdominal wall hernias, treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas, and ostomy reversals by Dr. Hoang
Minimally invasive hernia repairs and gallbladder surgery with a single incision, including da Vinci robotic surgery performed by Dr. Leyba
Achalasia by Dr. Perez
Hiatal hernia and acid reflux
Hemorrhoids
Weight-loss surgery - Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve, Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y (Gastric Bypass), Laparoscopic adjustable banding and LAP-BAND revisions by Dr. Vuong
Surgical Critical Care

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) is offered as a treatment option for early stage breast cancer. During a lumpectomy, IORT delivers a precise beam of radiation directly to the location where the tumor has been removed which can help spare healthy tissue and shorten treatment time.

IORT works best in early stage breast cancer and/or for patients who are traveling from outside the Albuqeurque area. For more information on IORT or our Cancer Center visit our cancer website or call 505.727.7000.

Lumpectomy

A lumpectomy is a breast-sparing surgery where the surgeon removes the cancer and margin of normal tissue surrounding the cancer.

Left Ventricular Assist Device

For patients who have reached a stage of advanced heart failure where the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the bodies needs, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may be an option. The LVAD is a surgically implanted mechanical pump powered by an external battery and attached to the heart. It works with the heart to help pump more blood with less stress on the heart muscles.

Margin Probe

During a lumpectomy, the surgeon removes the cancerous tumor and then the surrounding tissue called margin. By using the MarginProbe System our surgeons can determine results in real-time to differentiate healthy tissue from cancerous cells. This system allows our surgeons to achieve a clean margin, meaning there are no cancer cells left at the edge of the removed tissue.

Mastectomy

A mastectomy is a complete removal of the breast tissue , including the nipple but not the muscle of the chest wall.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy is the complete removal of the breast tissue, excluding the nipple and the muscle of the chest wall.

Prophylactic mastectomy is a surgery to remove one or both breasts to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, prophylactic mastectomy in high-risk women may be able to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 90 percent.

Neurosurgery

Our board certified neurosurgeons and expert staff offer surgical and non-surgical options for relieving pain at all ages and treating all disease stages of the central and peripheral nervous system.

Some of the treatments we offer include:

For more information on Neurosurgery click here.

Orthopedics

Our orthopedic services include diagnosis and treatment, including surgeries, for pain and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our surgical services are backed by current and emerging technologies, including the most advanced technology for laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures to improve the surgical experience for our physicians and patients alike.

Some of the treatments we offer include:

Total joint replacements, including Anterior Hip Replacement
Treatment for foot, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, hand and elbow pain
Sports medicine specialists for arthroscopic knee and shoulder repair
Fracture care
Injections
Minimally invasive surgeries
Outpatient rehabilitation

Total Joint Replacement

Lovelace offers total joint replacement surgery for both knees and hips. Our program begins at Joint Camp where you'll learn more about your surgery, pre and post surgery exercises, review frequently asked questions and learn what you can do now to prepare for a successful recovery period. If you require additional rehabilitation we have a seamless trasition into our Lovelace UNM Rehabiliation Hospital.

Minimally Invasive

Minimally invasive surgical options use the latest in surgical and robotics technologies to perform routine and complex surgery – taking surgery beyond the limits of the human hand. This technology allows major surgery to be performed through very small incisions. Benefits can include less pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster return to normal daily activities and the potential for better clinical outcomes.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis and legs becomes enlarged. This may be treated with a graft or an endovascular stent graft.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure where a small portion of tissue is removed laparoscopically in order to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.

Cox Maze Procedure

The maze procedure is a surgical option for atrial fibrillation. The surgeon uses a minimally invasive approach to create scar tissue which blocks the abnormal electrical signals causing the arrhythmia.

Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiology is a medical specialty that uses image guidance to offer minimally invasive procedures for a variety of diseases as an alternative to traditional surgery. Interventional radiology is a solution for patients who want an alterative to traditional surgery or who are not good surgical candidates. Most procedures only require moderate sedation and patients can be discharged the same day.

For more information on Interventional Radiology and the procedures offered please visit our Interventional Radiology page.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

This minimally invasive procedure is used to repair damaged valves for those who are at risk for open heart surgery.

Transcaroitd Artery Revascularization

Transcaroitd artery revascularization (TCAR) is offered for patients with carotid artery disease. A stent is implanted to stabilize the plaque and prevent future strokes.

Robotic Surgery

da Vinci

The da Vinci® Surgical System allows surgeons to offer an effective, minimally invasive option for complex surgical procedures. Small 1 – 2 centimeter incisions are used to introduce miniaturized wristed instruments and a high-definition 3-D camera. Your surgeon views a magnified, high-resolution 3-D image of the surgical site. At the same time, state-of-the-art robotic and computer technologies scale, filter and seamlessly translate your surgeon's hand movements into precise micro-movements of the robotic instruments. The system requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from your surgeon.

da Vinci Procedures

General Surgery for Abdominal Issues

Gallbladder issues
Hernia repairs
Cervical and uterine cancer

Gynecology

Uterine fibroids
Endometriosis
Uterine prolapsed
Menorrhagia or excessive bleeding

Urology

Prostate cancer
Kidney disorders or cancer
Bladder cancer
Urinary blockage

Request Information

For more information on da Vinci, please call 505.727.6758 or complete the form below.

Globus

The Globus ExcelsiusGPS offers the next revolution in robotic spine surgery for back pain relief. Robotic surgery improves accuracy and optimizes patient care by using a state-of-the-art combination of robotics and navigation. This technology offers a less invasive option for spine surgery, a reduction in radiation exposure for both the patient and the surgeon and a faster recovery period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is minimally invasive surgery (MIS)?

MIS is surgery typically performed through small incisions, or operating ports, rather than large incisions, resulting in potentially shorter recovery times, fewer complications, reduced hospitalization costs and reduced trauma to the patient. While MIS has become the standard for some surgical procedures, it has not been widely adopted for more complex or delicate procedures – for example, prostatectomy and mitral valve repair.

In traditional open surgery, the physician makes a long incision and then widens it to access the anatomy. In traditional minimally invasive surgery, which is widely used for routine procedures, the surgeon operates using rigid, hand-operated instruments, which are passed through small incisions and views the anatomy on a standard video monitor. Neither this laparoscopic instrumentation nor the video monitor can provide the surgeon with the excellent visualization needed to perform complex surgery like valve repair or nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

What are the benefits of robotic surgery compared with traditional methods of surgery?

Some of the major benefits experienced by surgeons using a robotic surgical system over traditional approaches have been greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access. Benefits experienced by patients may include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities. None of these benefits can be guaranteed, as surgery is necessarily both patient- and procedure-specific.

Does robotic surgery make the surgeon unnecessary?

On the contrary, robotic surgery enables surgeons to be more precise, advancing their technique and enhancing their capability in performing complex minimally invasive surgery. The system replicates the surgeon's movements in real time. It cannot be programmed, nor can it make decisions on its own to move in any way or perform any type of surgical maneuver without the surgeon's input.

Is a surgeon using a surgical robot operating in "virtual reality"?

Although seated at a console a few feet away from the patient, the surgeon views an actual image of the surgical field while operating in real-time, through tiny incisions, using miniaturized, wristed instruments. At no time does the surgeon see a virtual image or program/command the system to perform any maneuver on its own or outside of the surgeon's direct, real-time control.