Minimally Invasive Surgery

Surgery has evolved greatly over the last several decades, allowing operations once done with large, open incisions to now being performed through very small incisions with the assistance of robotic or laparoscopic technology. Minimally invasive approaches allow for shorter recovery times, helping patients to get back to their lives as quickly as possible.

CMU Health is leading Saginaw in the breadth of minimally invasive surgery and technology offerings for the Great Lakes Bay Region. Our services range from basic procedures such as gallbladder surgery, to complex operations such as combined liver and colon resections and robotic Whipple procedure for pancreas cancer.

Our surgery department offers fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeons to perform modern procedures previously unavailable in the region. We provide robotic and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for a wide variety of conditions at two local hospital systems – Ascension St. Mary’s and Covenant HealthCare – in Saginaw. CMU Surgery is proud to be the only surgical group in Mid-Michigan that offers robotic liver and pancreas resections.

Conditions Treated

Talk to your primary care physician about a referral to CMU Health Surgery if you need treatment for any of the following:

  • Achalasia
  • Appendicitis
  • Colon cancer
  • Complex abdominal wall hernias
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Diverticular disease of colon
  • Gallbladder infection and dysfunction
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Liver cancer
  • Pancreas cancer
  • Rectal cancer
  • Small bowel cancer
  • Small bowel obstruction
  • Spleen disorders
  • Stomach cancer
  • Ulcerative colitis

Procedures Performed

  • Laparoscopic lysis of adhesions involves careful excision of the scar tissue in the abdomen for treatment of a small bowel obstruction caused by a previous surgery or an infection.
  • Robotic abdominal wall reconstruction involves the removal of the hernia, returning the organs to their normal anatomic location, followed by repair of the abdominal wall by mobilizing muscle and reinforcing with mesh and suture.
  • Robotic cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder through one or several small incisions.
  • Robotic/laparoscopic colectomy is the removal of a portion of the colon for reasons including diverticulitis, colon cancer, large polyps and stricture.
  • Robotic/laparoscopic hepatectomy uses small incisions and very precise instrumentation to remove a portion of the liver for tumors or chronic liver infections.
  • Robotic/laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a minimally invasive surgery to reduce a groin hernia and patch the hole using a small mesh to prevent recurrence.
  • Robotic/laparoscopic small bowel resection is the removal of a portion of the small intestines for a tumor, small bowel obstruction or inflammatory bowel disease using small incisions.
  • Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the robotic removal of the pancreas head, first portion of the small intestine, gallbladder and bile duct with reconstruction for pancreatic tumors.

Why Choose CMU Health Surgery?

CMU Health doctors have the expertise, training and technology to provide optimal care for patients suffering from conditions requiring surgical and non-surgical treatment. Our surgeons develop treatment plans specific to each patient and give them the care and attention to attain the best possible results.

Our surgeons have privileges at both Ascension St. Mary’s and Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw. Because we have a working relationship with both hospital systems, we are able to accommodate patients with their preference of care location, including access to sites in Northern Michigan and in the Thumb for chemotherapy and/or radiation oncology.

As part of our partnership with the local hospital systems, all cancer cases from CMU Health patients may be presented a Tumor Conference at both hospitals to get a consensus statement on how to best proceed with care.

In addition to seeing patients at two regional hospitals, we also offer outpatient treatment at CMU Health Surgery on Washington Avenue in Saginaw, along with satellite office locations in Bay City, Caro, Standish and Tawas.

CMU Health Surgery is also the only surgical practice in the Saginaw area that provides access to national clinical trial enrollment through the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium.

Our Surgeons