What insurances are accepted at Yakima General Surgery?
Yakima General Surgery accepts the following insurances:
- Aetna
- Ambetter
- Cigna
- Community Health Plan of Washington
- First Choice
- First Health Network
- Humana
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Molina
- Multi plan
- Premera
- Providence
- Regence
- Tri West
- United
- WellCare
At what age should I have my first colonoscopy?
Everyone age 45 and older should have colon cancer screening. Individuals with a family history may need earlier screening. Stool-based testing is available for individuals with no family history of colon cancer. A colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing colon polyps, which are the precursors to colon cancer, and any abnormal stool-based testing results will require a colonoscopy for further evaluation. Read more on cancer.org.
What is a hernia?
A hernia is a hole in the muscle layers that allows fat or organs to protrude through. External hernias can typically be visualized as a bulge. Internal hernias can have different symptoms. There are different types of hernias:
Groin hernia
- Inguinal hernia – This type is most common in men. It occurs because during embryonic development, the testicles begin inside the abdomen and descend into the scrotum. Sometimes the tunnel behind them fails to close, resulting in a hernia.
- Femoral hernia – This is another type of groin hernia that occurs with more frequency in women. Minimally invasive repairs are more effective with this type of hernia, which is why the American College of Surgeons recommends minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) repair for all groin hernias in women.
Ventral hernia
This is an umbrella term for all hernias in the muscles of the abdomen.
- Umbilical hernia – These occur at the navel, at the previous location of the umbilical cord.
- Incisional hernia – Whenever an incision is made, the scar tissue will never be as strong as the skin and muscle before it was cut. Hernias often form at incisions from prior surgeries.
Internal hernia
- Hiatal hernia – This type of hernia is common and is often confused with the types above. The stomach passes through the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. If the hole for the passage of the stomach is too large, this is called a hernia. Symptoms can include heartburn, reflux, and regurgitation.
Obesity and hernias
Obesity increases the pressure inside the abdomen. Repair of hernias in obese individuals is associated with higher recurrence than repairs in non-obese individuals. Patients should work toward having a body mass index (BMI) less than 35 before proceeding with hernia repair. BMI is a calculation of weight versus height and can be calculated using this tool.
Do I need my gallbladder removed?
The gallbladder is a sac in the right upper abdomen that helps digest fats. For various reasons the gallbladder can form stones. Stones are common and do not cause symptoms in many people. Individuals who have gallstones and symptoms from those stones, especially pain, should have their gallbladder surgically removed.
The pain from gallstones is typically intense, occurs within 30 minutes of eating a high fat meal, is located in the right upper abdomen, and is described as “squeezing” or similar to labor pains. It may be associated with vomiting. If the pain comes and goes, patients should seek to see a surgeon as an outpatient. If the pain persists for more than 8 hours, this is an emergency and immediate surgical consultation is advised.
Stones can fall out of the gallbladder and into the bile ducts. This may necessitate a separate procedure performed by a gastroenterologist called an ERCP. Information on ERCP can be obtained here.
What is diverticulitis?
Diverticuli are pouches that form in natural weak spots in the wall of the colon, or large intestine. These occur after years of straining to pass firm stool and are sometimes called the “gray hairs of the colon” because they are common in older individuals. The entrance to these small diverticuli or pouches can become blocked with stool, causing them to become infected or even rupture. Perforated (or ruptured, or burst) diverticulitis is a surgical emergency and symptoms include severe abdominal pain. Diverticulitis can also present in a milder form and is characterized by lower abdominal dull pain or cramping pain that can flare up for days at a time and is associated with constipation or diarrhea. Some individuals who have had diverticulitis for years may need to have the unhealthiest portion of their colon removed in order to have normal bowel movements.
Are there different types of skin cancer?
There are three common types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. Melanoma is the worst type of skin cancer because it has the potential to spread to other organs. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma grow larger over time, but typically do not spread to internal organs. The risk of forming any type of skin cancer can be reduced by avoiding sun exposure and regular application of sunscreen.
What do I need to know about hemorrhoids and anoscopy?
Hemorrhoids are a normal part of human anatomy and are blood vessels that are present in the anal canal. They typically cause problems when they become enlarged or bleed. Enlarged hemorrhoids may protrude and cause throbbing discomfort following bowel movements. Blood in bowel movements should always be evaluated because while this can be due to hemorrhoids, it can also be due to colon cancer. A colonoscopy is often part of an evaluation for hemorrhoids to make sure the bleeding is not caused by a colon cancer higher up in the intestines as opposed to hemorrhoids near the exit. Another important piece of evaluation for hemorrhoids is anoscopy. This is a procedure in which a short scope is passed into the anus to evaluate only the hemorrhoids, but not the colon higher up.
| Procedure | Anoscopy | Colonoscopy |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Office | Endoscopy suite |
| Sedation | None | IV or general sedation |
| Portion of intestine evaluated | Anus | Rectum and colon |
| Length of scope | 3 inches | 5 feet |
| Purpose | Evaluate anal sphincter and hemorrhoids | Evaluate colon and rectum for polyps, cancer, or other abnormalities |
One condition that is commonly confused for “hemorrhoids” is an anal fissure. Typical symptoms of an anal fissure are sharp anal pain made worse by sitting or bowel movements. Patients sometimes complain of feeling as if they are passing shards of broken glass during bowel movements. An anal fissure is caused by a tear in the skin over the anal sphincter, which is the muscle that holds stool inside. This is different from the pain caused by hemorrhoids, which tends to be dull and throbbing.