Surgical Services

There are 25 surgeons who operate at CVMC, performing, on average, 16 surgeries a day.

Urologists Dr. Lopez and Dr. Sarver (second from left) performing a pyleoplasty, assisted by Suzanne Strock, TSC (technician surgical certified) in foreground.

Surgical Services at CVMC includes Inpatient Surgery and Same Day Surgery. Advances in medical technology as well as surgical techniques have made it possible for most surgeries to now be performed on a same day (or outpatient) basis. Eighty (80) percent of procedures done at CVMC are on a same day basis.

There are five operating rooms in addition to the Endoscopy procedure rooms. Four of the ORs are used when patients receive general or regional (spinal, epidural, localized block) anesthesia. The fifth OR is for use with cases requiring local anesthesia only.

Types of Surgery

There are 25 surgeons who operate at CVMC. They provide surgical services to all age groups – infants through elderly – in the following categories:

• General Surgery
  • David E. Butsch, MD
  • Mark Crane, MD
  • Mike Mason, MD
  • Ed Ziedins, MD
• Cancer
• Cardiology (limited to pacemaker insertion)
• Gastroenterology (digestive and elimination)
  • Green Mountain Gastroenterology, LLP
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (female reproductive system)
  • Central Vermont Women's Health
  • Gamal H. Eltabbakh, MD
  • Cheung Wong, MD
• Ophthalmology (eyes) - including Eye Laser Treatment for Glaucoma
  • FAHC The Eye Center
  • Iverson Eye Care
• Oral and Maxillofacial (mouth and face)
  • Jimmy L. Culver, DDS
  • Northern Vermont Oral & Facial Surgery
• Orthopedics (bones, joints, tendons)
  • Green Mountain Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology (ear, neck and throat)
• Podiatry (feet)
• Urology (urinary bladder, kidneys, prostate)
  • Armando Lopez, MD, Berlin Urology
  • Russell G. Sarver, MD, Mountainview Urology
  • Michael J. Zahm, MD, FACS, Central Vermont Urology

On average, 16 surgical procedures are done at CVMC daily. In 2004, there were over 5,500 hours of Operating Room use.

Surgical Techniques

Several surgical techniques are employed at CVMC. These include:

• Traditional Surgery: The expression "going under the knife" describes the traditional surgical process. A surgeon, or group of doctors, opens some area of the patient’s body up so that it can be corrected, repaired or better viewed.

• Laparoscopic Surgery: Laparoscopic surgery is called "minimally invasive surgery." Unlike traditional surgery in which a scalpel is used to open the portion of the body on which to be operated, a laparoscope, attached to a camera, can be inserted through a small incision to help the surgeon view the area. The operation is then conducted through 2-3 small incisions. Though not appropriate for all procedures, use of this technique generally leads to quicker recovery time.
• Laser Surgery: Lasers are highly focused beams of light used in clinical practice in contemporary medicine and surgery. In a number of surgical specialties, lasers have become an indispensable tool.

Anesthesia Services

Anesthesia Services at CVMC is provided by an all physician staff of anesthesiologists. Anesthesia services include:

• Anesthesia/sedation for surgery and invasive procedures such as endoscopy and biopsies performed in Diagnostic Imaging
• Procedures for patients with chronic pain.

An anesthesiologist is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet patient care needs. For more information about these services, click here.

Our Staff

Surgical Services at CVMC is under the direction of the Director of Ambulatory Nursing Services. The Medical Staff also designates a physician as the Chief of Surgery and the Chief of Anesthesiology. The majority of staff working in the Operating Room and Recovery Room are specially trained Registered Nurses (RNs). Licensed Practical Nurses and Nurses Aids assist in some Operating Room procedures as well.

Insurance Coverage

Most insurance plans will cover the cost of necessary surgery. In some situations, elective surgery, that is, surgery that is not an emergency and can be planned for, may not be covered. Some policies also require that the procedure be done on an outpatient basis. If you anticipate needing surgery, you should check with your insurance company to make sure all the necessary forms and approvals have been received prior to the procedure.