LAKELAND, Fla. — Dany K. Barrak, MD, a Watson Clinic General Surgery and Surgical Oncology specialist, is the first surgeon in the area to perform two recent groundbreaking procedures.
The first procedure, performed earlier this summer, involved the removal of a cancerous rectal tumor utilizing advanced robotic technology.
“Sometimes it’s very difficult getting to those areas that are low in the rectum,” said Dr. Barrak, who performed the procedure at Lakeland Regional Health. “That’s when the robot becomes very helpful.”
During a robotic-assisted procedure, Dr. Barrak remained in complete control every step of the way, directing robotic arms with specialized hand controls while seated behind a console. The robot performed each movement with unparalleled precision. The tumor was fully removed, as well as the margins surrounding it. The wounds were sutured with minimally blood loss, and the patient returned home within a few hours.
“This is quite different from more invasive approaches where we would have to perform a full resection, which would require three to five days in the hospital and a much longer recovery,” Dr. Barrak said.
The second procedure known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) was performed on December 9th from Lakeland Regional Health. HIPEC involves the pumping of a heated chemotherapy drug directly into the abdomen immediately following tumor removal. The temperature of the drug expands the blood vessels and leads to deeper penetration. The drugs are pumped for 90 minutes, and then the surgeon rocks the patient back and forth for two hours to ensure the drug has saturated the targeted areas. At the conclusion of this single treatment, the patient’s cancer cells have been destroyed and the risk of recurrence has been minimized. In most cases, no additional chemotherapy sessions will be necessary.
“This approach is effective for advanced abdominal cancers such as ovarian, stomach, appendix, colorectal, and soft tissue sarcomas,” Dr. Barrak explained.
Dr. Barrak accepts appointments from Watson Clinic Main at 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd. in Lakeland. For more information and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Barrak, call 863-680-7486 or visit WatsonClinic.com/Barrak.
provided by Watson Clinic