OUR SERVICES
Sonterra Procedure Center’s (SPC) highly skilled team of colon and rectal surgeons is dedicated to providing the most advanced, personalized care. Our double boarded surgeons bring more than 60 years of combined expertise and our dedicated staff ensure quality outcomes. We utilize the latest advances in medicine combined with state-of-the-art techniques for endoscopy procedures, outpatient surgical procedures, and the treatment of incontinence. SPC is San Antonio’s first nationally recognized incontinence center and has been serving patients for more than decade.
Our surgeons are fluent in both English and Spanish. Additionally, most of our staff are also bilingual for those patients and their families who are primarily Spanish speaking.
SERVICE OVERVIEW
The following is a brief listing of the common procedures we perform and services we proudly provide the San Antonio area.
- COLONOSCOPY
- ENDOSCOPY
- UGGPER GI ENDOSCOPY
- HEMORRHOIDECTORY
- ANORECTAL FISTULOTOMY
- HERNIA REPAIR
- INCONTINENCE TREATMENT
- SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION
- WOUND CARE
- SURGERY
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLON
What is the colon?
The colon is also called the large bowel or large intestine. It is an organ that is part of the digestive system in the human body and removes water, salt, and surplus nutrients from the body in the form of stool. The digestive system is made up of a group of organs that allow us to eat and use the food we eat to fuel our bodies. The colon’s walls are lined with specific muscles which squeeze the contents along and out of the body. Billions of bacteria spread over the interior surface of the colon and its contents, creating a healthy balance within the body. The colon is extremely important in digestion and at SPC, our specialists are trained to address any issues that might develop in the digestive system.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR PROCEDURE
COLONOSCOPY
A colonoscopy is a procedure a physician uses to look at the inside of the colon and rectum — such as swollen, irritated tissues, polyps or cancer — in the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
During a colonoscopy, a colonoscope is used, which is a long, flexible tube about the width of a finger. It is a inserted into the rectum and has a tiny video camera at the tip of the tube and a light which allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon. If necessary, special instruments can be passed through the colonoscope to biopsy or remove any suspicious-looking areas such as polyps.
ENDOSCOPY
Endoscopy is a procedure where a physician uses a tube-like instrument to look inside the body. There are various types of endoscopy, each of which is designed for looking at a certain part of the body.
UPPER GI ENDOSCOPY
An Upper GI endoscopy is a procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The upper GI tract includes the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of your small intestine. This procedure is done using a long, flexible tube called an endoscope. The tube has a tiny video camera at the tip of the tube and a light which allows the doctor to view inside. It is put into your mouth and throat, then slowly pushed through your esophagus and stomach, and into your duodenum. Video images from the tube are seen on a monitor.
This procedure is done using a long, flexible tube called an endoscope. The tube has a tiny light and video camera on one end. The tube is put into your mouth and throat. Then it is slowly pushed through your esophagus and stomach, and into your duodenum. Video images from the tube are seen on a monitor.
Small tools may also be inserted into the endoscope. These tools can be used to:
- Take tissue samples for a biopsy
- Remove things such as food that may be stuck in the upper GI tract
- Inject air or fluid
- Stop bleeding
- Conduct procedures such as endoscopic surgery, laser therapy, or dilate a narrow area
HEMORRHOIDECTORY
A hemorrhoidectomy is surgery to remove internal or external hemorrhoids that are extensive or severe. These are swollen veins in the annual area. During this surgery, the doctor will cut out the swollen veins. After surgery, the pain and itching caused by hemorrhoids should go away. Surgical hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective treatment for hemorrhoids.
ANORECTAL FISTULOTOMY
The most common type of surgery for anal fistulas is a fistulotomy. An anal fistulotomy is surgery to open and drain an anal fistula, helping the fistula to heal. This involves cutting along the whole length of the fistula to open it up, so it heals as a flat scar. It is the most effective treatment but usually only recommended for fistulas that do not pass through much of the sphincter muscles, since the risk of incontinence is lower in these cases.
HERNIA REPAIR
Hernia repair surgery is the most common treatment for a hernia. With a hernia, an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue wall that holds it. Most hernias form in the abdomen or groin. Hernia surgery allows your surgeon to push the organ and herniated tissue back into place and reinforce the barrier holding it there using stitches or surgical mesh.
The three main types of hernia surgery are open, laparoscopic (minimally invasive), and robotic repair. Surgery and recovery depends on the type of hernia and how complex the surgery might be.
INCONTINENCE TREATMENT
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. It’s a common problem that affects millions of people. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
- ·stress incontinence – when urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when coughing or laughing
- urge (urgency) incontinence – when urine leaks and there’s a sudden intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards
- overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) – unable to fully empty bladder, which can cause frequent leaking
- total incontinence – when the bladder cannot store any urine at all, causing urine to pass constantly or frequent leaking
- It is also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence
SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION
Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM), also known as Sacral Nerve Stimulation, is a therapy that can help people who experience bladder and bowel problems, and the treatment can be a life changing therapy.
SNM is not suitable for everyone and your physician or healthcare professional can discuss this option.
Sacral Neuromodulation Therapy can help to restore normal bladder or bowel function. The therapy addresses the communication problem between the bladder or bowel and the brain, and a diagnostic trial of therapy is used for a few weeks to see if it is successful.
SNM is also used for the treatment of an overactive bladder, urinary retention, urgency frequency, urge incontinence, and fecal incontinence.
Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is performed because millions of people are affected by overactive bladder and are refractory to behavioral modifications or pharmacotherapy. Indications for SNM include urinary retention, urgency frequency, urge incontinence, and fecal incontinence. This activity describes sacral neuromodulation and reviews the interprofessional team’s role in evaluating and treating patients who undergo this procedure.
WOUND CARE
If you have severe or chronic wounds, or surgical incisions, you might benefit from experienced wound care. There are many types of chronic wounds, which don’t heal through normal treatment methods. The most common types of wounds include:
- Arterial ulcers
- Chronic wounds
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Nonhealing surgical wounds
- Pressure ulcers
- Traumatic wounds
- Vasculitic ulcers (leg)
- Venous stasis ulcers (ulcers and skin damage due to malfunctioning veins)
Education is key for any type of wound care plan. At SPC, you will receive an individualized treatment care plan and also instructions and information to help the healing process.
SURGERY
Anal cancer surgery is most successful when performed by a specialist with a great deal of experience in the particular procedure. If surgery is needed to treat anal cancer, one of the following procedures might be utilized:
Local resection: The tumor, along with some of the tissue around it, is surgically removed.
Abdominoperineal resection (APR): The anus, the rectum and part of the colon are removed through an incision in the abdomen. The end of the intestine is attached to an opening (stoma) in the abdomen. Body waste leaves this opening and is collected in a plastic bag outside the body. This also is called a colostomy.
The cancer staging system continues to evolve and is becoming more complex as doctors improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will evaluate and suggest treatment options for you.
LEARN ABOUT AXONICS THERAPY
Who is a good candidate for Axonics Therapy?
It is up to you and your healthcare provider to determine if you are a good candidate for Axonics Therapy.
Axonics Therapy is an approved treatment for patients suffering with:
- Overactive bladder (OAB) – the urgent need to urinate which may result in frequent urination and/or incontinence (leakage) episodes
- Urinary frequency – the need to urinate 8 or more times a day, which may or may not be associated with urgency
- Urinary urgency incontinence (UUI) – the urgent need to urinate or trouble holding urine before making it to the restroom
- Fecal (bowel) incontinence – involuntary loss of stool which may or may not be associated with urgency
- Nonobstructive urinary retention (UR) – the inability to completely empty the bladder which may result in trouble urinating or frequent small voids
- Axonics Therapy is indicated for patients who have failed conservative treatments, such as lifestyle changes, physical therapy, or medications.
Get the symptom relief you deserve!
Ready to take the first step towards symptom relief? Schedule a consultation with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and to determine if Axonics Therapy is right for you.
Implantation and use of the Axonics System incurs risk beyond those normally associated with surgery, some of which may necessitate surgical intervention.
Results and experiences may vary and are unique to each patient. No promise or guarantee is made about specific results or experiences. Talk to your doctor about whether the Axonics System is right for you and to discuss the potential risks and benefits. For more information about safety and potential risks, go to: www.axonics.com/isi.
Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale and use by, or on the order of, a physician.
