Sally Muncy, R.N. Tubal Reversal Operating Room Nurse

Meet Sally, a Tubal Reversal OR Nurse The team at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center wants you to feel comfortable during your time with us. Sally Muncy, RN, an operating room nurse at Chapel Hill Surgical Center, describes what to expect the day of your surgery, and how she plays a part in your tubal reversal care in her latest tubal reversal blog. From preoperatively to recovery, Sally is there for you.

"Dr. Berger has asked me to give a short description of what I do as an Operating Room Nurse so that you will feel that you know me when you come here for your tubal reversal surgery. I am a nurse who accompanies you to the operating room once the preoperative nurses have admitted you and taken care of all your physical as well as emotional needs. I am there for you to make sure that you are comfortable and have no last minute questions or misgivings.

One more time I will check your name on your name band and ask you about allergies and if you have eaten. I will ask you to use the rest room to empty your bladder as Dr. Berger does not use any bladder catheter in your bladder during surgery. I’m not asking these same questions that the other nurses have ask you because I don’t know the answers, but ask them only as one more opportunity to avoid a mistake about something you may have forgotten to mention."

In The Operating Room

"In operating room, you will be made comfortable and warm and everything that is being done will be explained to you. I realize this is a little frightening since everyone in the operating room wears a mask, gloves and gown for your protection. This brings up another point about who will be in the operating room with you. As I said I will be at your side the whole time. There will also be an anesthesiologist or anesthetist, a surgical assistant, and a surgical scrub technician (the person who is responsible for all the sterility of the surgical equipment and for seeing that Dr. Berger has the instruments as he needs them when he is concentrating on surgery). The only other person present is Dr. Berger.

For those of you (and there are many) who have a concern for modesty in the operating room, you really have nothing to worry about. After the surgical area is cleansed you are covered from head to toe. There is only about an 8 inch by 3 inch window of skin exposed on your abdomen. Many ladies also come for surgery while having their menstrual period. This also is handled very discreetly. You will keep your underwear and pad on until the last minute and then you can remove them in the bathroom and we will have a pad on the bed for you. I really want to impress upon you that from the time you walk in the front door to when you leave after surgery you will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

Once you are settled in the operating room you go off to sleep fairly quickly after being attached to heart monitors and a final safety check being done. One more time every staff person in the room checks your name, allergies, and other important data regarding your health. At this point everyone takes their designated position in the room and like a finely choreographed dance surgery begins. Because of keeping sterility in the room, no one can touch another person so each one has to know exactly what they are doing and where the other four people are.I am the one who keeps computer records of anything pertinent to your surgery while Dr. Berger dictates in detail. I am also responsible to see that everyone has the sterile equipment, medications, irrigating fluids, or anything else that needs to be brought in to the operating room. And finally I perform, with the scrub technician, a counting of all the instruments and dressings that are used during surgery. This count is also done before you enter the room and two more times. The final count must match exactly. This avoids any concern of a lost instrument or dressing. This is to insure absolute safety. "

On To The Recovery Room

"When Dr. Berger finishes surgery I will put a small dressing on your abdomen. Surgical time will be recorded and you will soon wake up and move back to your original bed. It is then my pleasure to return you to the recovery room where your nurse will greet you and I will bring your family member in to sit with you.

I just want to assure you once again that you will be in good, safe hands throughout your tubal reversal surgery. Every staff member at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and Chapel Hill Surgical Center is there to meet your needs and we are honored that you have put your trust, first in Dr. Berger, and then in everyone else who has any part in your care. "

Sally Muncy, R.N. Operating Room Nurse Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center

6 Responses to “O.R. Nurse”

Ericka Says: June 27th, 2008 at 6:17 am Sally, this is a wonderful introduction. Thank you. I’m sure it will bring comfort to anyone who wonders what goes on in the OR. It is comforting to know that each and every staff member at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is a highly trained professional who has the patients’ best interests at heart. That is one of the things that makes this the best place for tubal reversal surgery and why women come here from all over the world.

Rhonda Brown RN Says: June 27th, 2008 at 7:12 am I know that this will bring comfort to each and every person that reads this. I know it will hellp answer lots of questions and bring a calmness to those who are wondering what exactly goes on in the operating room. This is just another example of exceptional patient care that is offered by the staff at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Jennifer Okun Says: June 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am Thank you for the very descriptive and informative post, Sally. You give a clear understanding of what patients are to expect during surgery. I hope all our patients take the time to read our blog - especially before they come here for their surgery. If they do, they will definitely feel more comfortable about what they can expect during their experience here.
Stephanie, RN Says: June 27th, 2008 at 12:16 pm Thanks Sally. This will help patients understand the role of a circulating nurse and help calm their fears about why and how certain things are done.

Sarah Meachem RN Says: June 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm Sally’s excellent description of her role as an OR nurse should definitely alleviate patient fears about the OR and general anesthesia. Patients at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center are always in capable hands and receive the best possible care.

Andrea Says: June 27th, 2008 at 5:57 pm Thanks so much for the description, Sally! I can’t wait to meet you, and the rest of the staff. I am scheduled on 7/30. Thanks so very much for taking the time to help ease our fears…one would think that after 2 vaginal births and 2 c-sections, there would be nothing left to fear…not the case!
Thanks again, and God Bless.

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Welcomes Dr. Split

Dr. James Split, a board certified anesthesiologist, is the newest member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center staff. Although only 4 tubal reversal surgeries are performed each day at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, there are 2 anesthesiologists and a nurse anesthetist on staff. The primary responsibility of the anesthesia department is to ensure patients' safety during surgery and comfort during recovery. Many of Dr. Berger's patients who are having their tubes untied will be speaking with Dr. Split as a part of their preoperative evaluation and will meet him on the day prior to or on the day of their tubal ligation reversals.

In the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Blog Dr. Berger welcomes Dr. Split.

It is a happy occasion to introduce another new member of the staff of Chapel Hill Surgical Center. Dr. James Split is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. He has worked at Chapel Hill Surgical Center since December 2007. He previously lived and worked in Greensboro, North Carolina for the last 18 months. Before moving to North Carolina, Dr. Split practiced medicine in Michigan for 25 years. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Michigan in 1979 and practiced Emergency Medicine for the first 11 years of his career. He both practiced and taught Emergency medicine in an Emergency Medicine Residency and held a clinical faculty position at Michigan State University. In 1990, he returned to the University of Michigan to train in anesthesiology. He completed his anesthesiology residency in 1993 and has been in the full time practice of anesthesiology since then. Dr. Split is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Dr. Split will be speaking with many of you as part of your pre-operative evaluation. If you have any general questions about anesthesia, you can add comments to this blog or post them on the Tubal Reversal Message Board and he will to answer them. If you have specific questions that require privacy, or that may not be of interest to others, please send Dr. Split an e-mail to DrSplit@tubal-reversal.net and he will respond.

Dr. Berger’s Comment

The highest priority for patients who come to me for tubal reversal surgery to untie tubes is patient safety during and after surgery. This is ensured by the involvement of medical professionals who are the most highly trained and qualified specialists. Our two anesthesiologists are certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. The anesthesiologist is the physician responsible for the monitoring and care of patients while they are asleep during their tubal reversal procedure and for their safe and comfortable recovery in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Dr. Split’s background in Emergency Medicine gives him an added dimension of knowledge and experience. On behalf of all of our staff, I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Split to Chapel Hill Surgical Center and Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

1. Rhonda Brown RN Says:
   
   April 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
   

   Dr. Split is a positive addition to the anesthesia team at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. His interaction with the patients during their preop consultation has made it obvious of his desire for optimal patient care.



2. Stephanie Duncan RN Says:
   
   April 19th, 2008 at 8:58 am
   

   It is a pleasure to work with Dr. Split in the operating room each and every day! He goes the extra mile to make patients feel safe and well cared for before going to sleep. His experience and background makes him a good fit for Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.



3. Julia Smith RN Says:
   
   April 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
   

   We are excited to have Dr. Split with us. I know that our patients will appreciate his skill as an anesthesiologist as well as his professional and compassionate bedside manner.



4. Ericka Pamplin Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 6:20 am
   

   It is a pleasure to work with you, Dr. Split!



5. Pamela Mills CRNA Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 6:29 am
   

   It is a pleasure to work with Dr. Split; he is a terrific addition to our team!



6. Matt Murphy ST Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 6:52 am
   

   I’m so glad to have him on our team! He is an excellent anesthesiologist and is great with the patients.



7. jgokun Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am
   

   Patients are often very apprehensive about their anesthesia for the tubal reversal surgery. Dr. Split is extremely friendly and I think he does a great job of putting patients fears aside and helping them to feel comfortable about their upcoming procedure.



8. Kathy Scrone ST Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 11:36 am
   

   Patients at Chapel Hill Surgery Center feel reassured and comfortable that they are taken care of in such a professional and caring manner by Dr. Split. I enjoy working with him.



9. Sarah Meachem RN Says:
   
   April 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
   

   It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Split - he has been a great addition to our staff!

Dr. Monteith's Divine Revelation and Tubal Reversal Dream

Dr. Monteith has just published the third part of a series of a weekly blogs. Any patients who are curious to know more about him,who have met him, or are considering having surgery will find this interesting reading.This weekly blog will describe his path to becoming a tubal reversal specialist.

Dr. Monteith discusses his dream to become a tubal reversal specialist. Following his dream led him to contacting Dr. Berger of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Luckily Dr. Berger was waiting for a great doctor, like Dr. Monteith, to come along so that he could teach a qualified surgeon his skill of outpatient tubal reversal surgery. Dr. Monteith's goal is to learn the surgical technique of tubal ligation reversal, which is gradually becoming a dying science and a lost art. In this process, he hopes to help a large group of women regain both their fertility and wellness through tubal reversal.

Dr. Monteith's Divine Revelation and Tubal Reversal Dream

Dr. Charles Monteith to Become Certified as Tubal Reversal Surgeon.

Press Release February 18, 2008 - Physician joins practice of Gary S. Berger, M.D. at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

(CHAPEL HILL, NC) - Dr. Gary S. Berger, Medical Director of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, today announced the association of Dr. Charles W. Monteith as a certified tubal reversal surgeon beginning in July of 2008.

Dr. Monteith attended college at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He attended medical school at the University of California at San Francisco where he received a Howard Hughes research fellowship and conducted research in molecular genetics.

After completing his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Monteith accepted a Clinical Assistant Professor position with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina in 2001. He worked as a Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wake Medical Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. for seven years where he practiced high-risk obstetrics and advanced surgical gynecology. Dr. Monteith spent a significant amount of time with the training and teaching of both medical students and residents.

Under the guidance of Dr. Berger, Dr. Monteith is currently undergoing certification in tubal ligation reversal surgery and will have assisted on more than a hundred reversal procedures before he begins accepting patients in July.

Dr. Berger has been performing tubal reversal surgery for more than 30 years and has performed more than 6000 reversal procedures during his career. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only facility in the United States that is limited specifically to the practice of tubal reversal surgery.

Dr. Gary S. Berger
(919) 656-8204

More information on Charles Monteith, Tubal Reversal Surgeon.

Dr. Charles Monteith to Become a Certified Tubal Reversal Surgeon - Free-Press-Release.com

Why Choose Dr. Berger

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only medical facility specifically for tubal ligation reversal surgery. We provide the most detailed information about tubal reversal available from any doctor, hospital, or medical institution. Let me explain how we are able to do this.

Electronic Patient Database

Keeping track of patients following surgery makes excellent sense from a clinical point of view. Continuing follow-up after surgery helps ensure the best care for each patient and allows us to evaluate the success of tubal reversal surgery and the care we provide. Setting up and maintaining a system to ensure ongoing follow-up is not usually found in a private medical practice since this is costly and time-consuming and requires staff knowledgeable in database management. Regardless of the cost and time requirement, Dr. Berger has made it a priority because of his commitment to giving patients all of the information they should have in order to make an informed decision about tubal reversal surgery.

At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, we have a computer system where every nurse enters patient information before, during, and after their surgery. In fact, all 11 of our nurses contact patients, record data and make daily entries into computerized records. With this follow-up information, we can analyze and report accurate statistical data about the long-term outcomes of tubal reversal procedures I have performed.

Information Sources

The patient follow-up system consists of information collected in many different ways and includes a minimum of 6 calls or e-mails to the patient in the first year following surgery.

1. Post-operative nurse visit the morning after surgery;
2. Telephone follow-up on the second postoperative day;
3. Telephone follow-up on the third postoperative day;
4. E-mail questionnaire at two weeks;
5. Telephone contact at 6 months;
6. Telephone contact at 12 months.

Other information is collected and recorded any time we communicate with patients post-operatively. These contacts are usually initiated by patients to report pregnancies and the outcomes of pregnancies. When patients report new pregnancies, we request that they complete a Pregnancy Report Form. Each week, we summarize the new pregnancy results in the Weekly Pregnancy Report Forum of the Tubal Reversal Message Board and also give more details in the Weekly Pregnancy Announcements.

In summary, after reading our information and statistics and comparing it to what might be available from other doctors, we believe patients will recognize that Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only facility where accuracy of information is considered to be a priority and sharing it with prospective patients is considered to be a necessity. Providing facts rather than offering misleading or speculative statements about tubal reversal success is one mission of our practice. We believe this is the right thing to do.

I hope this information is helpful to you as you consider whether tubal reversal surgery is right for you.

Julia Smith RN 919-656-8204

Tubal Ligation Reversal How Long Before Pregnancy

This is topic How Long Before Pregnancy after TR? in forum After Tubal Reversal at Tubal Reversal Message Board.

Women who chose Dr. Gary Berger as their tubal reversal doctor discuss how quickly they became pregnant after tubal reversal surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Many of the patients that have already posted a response received their first positive pregnancy test within 3 months of their tubal reversal surgery.

One patient posted that within 34 months of her tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger she had already given birth to two tubal reversal babies and is currently 6 months pregnant with her third tubal reversal baby! This is very encouraging to patients still planning their tubal reversal.

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Posted by ChucksGirl (Member # 8875) on January 26, 2008 06:06 PM:

After tubal ligation reversal how long before pregnancy? I am interested to hear any and all reports about this.

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Posted by PaulnJenn (Member # 10984) on January 26, 2008 06:19 PM:

Hey Chucksgirl-
It really doesn't take long for some. I had my TR 11/19/07 and my first BFP on 12/30/07. Unfortunately, it ended on 01/14/08. BUT that was pretty quick for me and I am happy with knowing that it can happen.

I hope the more successful stories will chime in because there are quite a few!
GL!
Jenn

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Posted by Michelle39 (Member # 11154) on January 26, 2008 07:29 PM:

Hi Chucksgirl, I had my tr 3/12/07 & 1st bfp 6/13/07 ended on 6/29/07 e/p. 2nd bfp 8/25/07 ended mc. 2nd hsg on 1/08/08 showed right tube wide opened & on 1/25/08 I just tested w/fact plus & it's a BFP I'm thrilled & I'm going on monday to get my 1st hcg num.'s I just hope that they double & this one is a keeper!!! Did you get your tr yet? If you did when? Best of Luck and baby dust to all..Michelle

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Posted by motherof2 (Member # 8207) on January 26, 2008 07:31 PM:

It took me 1yr & 4 months.

ME-34
DH-37
DD-18
DD-16
BFP- 1/4/08
EDD- 9/11/08

TR- 8/22/06
R- 7.0
L- 7.5

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Posted by berta8133 (Member # 11188) on January 26, 2008 07:37 PM:

TR 7/23/07
3cm each side

BFP 9/12/07 (first cycle)
E/P 9/25/07

BFP 11/30/07
M/C 12/8/07

Currently TTC, hoping 3x a charm!!

Berta: 38

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Posted by USMCMP Wife (Member # 9691) on January 26, 2008 07:56 PM:

Well the 1st time I got my 1st BFP was 2 months after my TR which was on May 2, 2006. I of course mc but then 2 months after that I got a BFP again w/twins and well we lost one of the twins in the beginning of the pg it observobed but on June 1, 2007 we had a healthy happy boy RJ who is now 7 months old and almost 24lbs. Also I am 41 years old I had him 2 days before my 41st bday.

Hugs,
Heidi & RJ

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Posted by rkandlm (Member # 6776) on January 26, 2008 09:06 PM:

HI!

This is about me

Me 32
DH 42
DD 14
DS 11
DD 8
DS 2 (1st TR baby)
EDD 3-30-08 w/ TR baby #2

TL 9-99
TR 11-04
I got PG with 1st TR baby 1.5 months after TR.
I got PG with 2nd TR and we had only BD 1 time that month! (really busy month! HAHA)

That's our story!
[Love] Lisa
EDD 3-30-08 with
TR baby #2....It's a girl!

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Posted by momto10 (Member # 11808) on January 26, 2008 09:13 PM:

Lisa, I love your story. It gives me hope. I just had my TR on the 17th and I am afraid to BD all this week. I am due to O on Tuesday. I'm afraid that it would raise the chances of tubal pregnancy, if my tubes were still swollen..

Gwen

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Posted by khadija (Member # 7447) on January 26, 2008 09:57 PM:

It is different for many people. As for me it did not take long. I had my TR march 31 05 and TR#1 was born the same year in Dec. We got PG again right away with Tr #2 and he was born 13 months after the 1st one. I am now Pg with TR # 3 and she is due in May so if you add it up I had my TR 34 months ago and I have 2 babies and 6 months PG with # 3, so it does work. Wishing you the best. Feel free to ask me any questions.
Khadija

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Posted by Theboysmomma (Member # 11342) on January 26, 2008 11:44 PM:

I had my TR done 11/21/07 and got pregnant the first time DH and i were together after surgery. Needless to say, we weren't quite trying yet, it just happened. That pregnancy ended 12/31/07 in emergency surgery as an ovarian ectopic. We are currently trying again.

Katie-27
DD-10
DS-9
DS-7
DS-5

TL- 3/1/02
TR- 11/21/07
OVARIAN E\P- 12/31/07

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Posted by momto10 (Member # 11808) on January 27, 2008 09:10 AM:

khadija, Thanks for sharing. Congratualtions! I love how many TR babies you have. I hope mine goes as well. I will be waiting to conceive until next month.

Does anyone have a count on the most births to one woman following a TR?

Gwen

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Posted by mama12 (Member # 11260) on January 27, 2008 09:39 AM:

TR 10-15-07
MC 11-20-07
EP 12-14-07 lost right tube.
We will be trying again after another complete cycle. So in March.
Dr. said after all the trauma of MC and EP I need to wait. My body seriously needs a good long break. He said if I got preg in that next month after the tube removal, it would be a guarantee it wouldn't go well. Anesthesia, pain meds it was all yucky stuff in my system, my organs being messed with repeatedly....
As you can see I was pregnant 2 weeks after TR.
IF I had to do it all again I would wait at very least a full complete 30 days to TTC and NOT after my 1st period. My first AF was 1 week after TR.
I would wait just to make sure the healing had been complete. The surgery is rough on the body. I still think if I would've waited things would've turned out better. I was kind of shocked to be BFP so fast. I was still weak and healing. It just wasn't good for me at all. Basically we cut the stitches and BAM I was BFP.

My personal recommendation is to wait until you feel 100% healed, not good enough or kind of healed... Gwen the tube swelling is a concern I had too.
A full month, not your first AF or even 2 can make a world of difference I think. By 2 months you should be perfect. It's just my opinion, we've been through hell so far TTC. I don't want to repeat it. For me waiting is best.

I hate waiting, but I want to be sure everything is PERFECT in there!!

I think Miss Khadija is the most I've heard of with 3!!! You go girl!!! [Smile]
I can't wait to be BFP again. Sigh... our wait time is going fast so it's ok. [Smile]
1 month down, Feb to go. Then try in March!
Everybody is different, I guess it's go with how you feel and how your body reacts to surgeries and trauma like that during your whole life.
My body likes to take it's sweet time so I'm listening to it.

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Posted by Terra (Member # 7122) on January 27, 2008 10:20 AM:

Hi!

This is about me

Me 36
DH 37
DS 13
DS 12
DS 5
TR 1/7/05
DD TR baby 2(today!)

We are all done now. DH has had a vasectomy. We decided 4 C-sections was enough. Best of luck in your journey!

Terra

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Posted by debjim (Member # 8607) on January 27, 2008 10:42 AM:

I had my TR on 3/1/06 Last Af was in 7/06 and I got my BFP in Aug/06. My daughter is 9 months old.

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Posted by nursejones72 (Member # 11878) on January 27, 2008 12:38 PM:

Khadija,
My name is Tessa and I was reading your post. You conceived twice without any complications and I think that is wonderful and I hope that is how it works for me. What are your tube lengths? I just had my TR on the 24th, do you think it is too soon to BD? My AF ended yesterday, so in about 6 days I will be ovulating. I am a little unsure if I should wait till after another AF or not. My DH says whatever I want to do, he is ready whenever I am ready. What do you suggest? I understand that the pregnancy outcomes are different for each. Thanks

Tessa

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Posted by Gary S Berger MD (Member # 3) on January 27, 2008 01:40 PM:

First pregnancies after tubal reversal have occurred within weeks up to as long as 4 years. I believe that the most children reported to us so far after tubal reversal is four, but there are many women who have had two or three children since their reversals. In my next analysis of the Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study for 2008, I will take a closer look at this and include information in the report in answer to the question about "tubal ligation reversal how long before pregnancy".

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Posted by Annjeana (Member # 10632) on January 27, 2008 01:52 PM:

Well it only took me about 6 weeks [Smile] I never even had a period after my TR. I was on AF durning TR and I have very long cycles So to my surprise on CD 68 and 8 DPO I got my BFP and now have a sweet little girl that is 5 weeks old.. I could not beleive that I got PG on my first cycle, it has not even been a year sense my TR and I already have a baby [Smile] Dr. Berger is AWESOME!
Angel

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Posted by Gary S Berger MD (Member # 3) on January 27, 2008 03:07 PM:

The question that stimulated this message board discussion was an excellent one. The information about how long it takes to become pregnant after tubal reversal and how many babies patients have had after the reversal can be found by following the links to Pregnancy and Birth Testimonials and the New Pregnancies reports. There are thousands of individual pages of these, and it would take an enormous effort to go through all of these pages on our website. That is why I do a yearly statistical analysis of our patient database and prepare a Tubal Reversal Study Pregnancy Report.

Outpatient Tubal Reversal Procedure

Is Tubal Reversal Surgery Safer in a Hospital?

In a recent email inquiry, someone asked if it would be safer to have tubal reversal surgery in a hospital. My answer to her: "It is much safer to have tubal reversal surgery performed at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center than in a hospital." Roughly 100,000 people wind up with a potentially deadly infection during hospital treatment in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most of these dangerous bacteria are transmitted by hospital staff from sick patients.

When it comes to cleanliness and strict adherence to infection control procedures, there is no medical or surgical facility better than Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Hospitals are the right place for treating complicated medical or surgical problems, but they are not the best place for healthy people to have tubal reversal surgery!

Infection and Medication Error Risks in Hospitals

Roughly 100,000 people wind up with a potentially deadly infection during hospital treatment in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Hospital-acquired infections (also called “nosocomial” infections) are particularly dangerous, since hospital germs are especially resistant to antibiotics. One example in the news lately the bacteria called methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Most of these dangerous bacteria are transmitted by hospital staff from sick patients.

Hospital patients get the wrong drug one time out of five, according to a study by Auburn University.

Patient-safety incidents continue to rise in American hospitals. The largest increases involve hospital-acquired infections and post operative sepsis (overwhelming infection).

A Chicago Tribune study revealed that serious violations of infection-control standards have been found in the vast majority of hospitals nationally. Since 1995, more than 75 percent of all hospitals have been cited for significant cleanliness and sanitation violations. This report says:

A hidden epidemic of life-threatening infections is contaminating America’s hospitals, needlessly killing tens of thousands of patients each year. Nearly three-quarters of the deadly infections are preventable, the result of unsanitary facilities, germ-laden instruments, unwashed hands and other lapses.

Deaths linked to hospital germs represent the fourth leading cause of mortality among Americans, behind heart disease, cancer and strokes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These infections kill more people each year than car accidents, fires and drowning combined.

“The number of people needlessly killed by hospital infections is unbelievable, but the public doesn’t know anything about it,” said Dr. Barry Farr, a leading infection-control expert and president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Dr. Berger’s Comment

When it comes to cleanliness and strict adherence to infection control procedures, there is no medical or surgical facility better than Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Our patients often comment about the meticulous nature of our facility. It is clean, orderly, and uncluttered. We are obsessive about this.

The idea that it may be safer to have elective surgery in a hospital is wrong. Hospitals are the right place for treating complicated medical or surgical problems, but they are not the best place for healthy people to have tubal reversal surgery!

Tubal Reversal Procedure Comfort

Making Tubal Reversal Comfortable

by Gary S. Berger, MD
Reproductive Surgeon-Director
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center

Using The Best Surgical And Anesthetic Techniques

Tradionally, tubal reversal surgery microsurgery has been a major in-hospital operation with several days of hospital stay and surgical techniques that cause postoperative pain and disability. They don't think about how to minimize postoperative pain while performing a surgical procedure. Patients, of course, would prefer that surgeons avoid techniques that cause pain after they awake.

Postoperative pain following abdominal surgery is due mostly to trauma to the muscles and connective tissues in the abdominal wall when using traditional surgical techniques. Abdominal retractors (metal instruments that pull back on the skin, connective tissues, and muscles to provide exposure of the pelvic organs), cause bruising and reduced blood flow to tissues during the time they are being held apart by the retractors. In my experience - having performed over 6000 outpatient tubal reversals - the operation is best performed using no retractors at all other than just the surgeon's fingers, the gentlest of all surgical instruments.

Surgical packs (large gauze pads) traditionally are placed into the abdomen to push the intestines away from the pelvic organs. These irritate the intestines and are unnecessary in most cases.

Another technique that prevents postoperative pain is injecting a local anesthetic, even though the patient is asleep, in the areas where surgery is performed . This effective technique is called "pre-emptive analgesia".

These are some of the methods that I use that make tubal reversal comfortable as outpatient surgery. These techniques allow patients to awake in comfort and avoid the need for repeated injections of narcotic pain medications. Making surgery comfortable improves patient outcomes, avoids the need for routine postoperative hospital care, and results in low cost tubal reversal.

Financing for Tubal Reversal Surgery

The all-inclusive cost or fee for tubal reversal performed by Dr. Berger is $5900 when payment is made in full within 24 hours after scheduling your surgery. This is a $1000 reduction from the standard fee. Some insurance companies may cover part of the cost of tubal ligation reversal.

Both the standard and reduced cost are all-inclusive and cover:
-Preoperative record review and consultation
-Dr. Berger's surgical fee
-Anesthesiologist's and nurse anesthetist's fees
-Surgical supplies
-Operating facility fees
-Postoperative pain medication and antibiotics
-Follow-up care.

The reduced fee of $5900 is a one time offer. If you cancel your procedure for any reason and reschedule at a later date, the standard fee of $6900 will apply. If you start a Pre-payment plan with us you are still eligible for the reduced fee. When you have $5900 in your account you may then schedule your surgery date at the lower price.
Pre-payment plan offers option for long-term financing
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center offers a Pre-Payment Plan option for patients preferring to make long-term payment arrangements on procedures.With the Pre-Payment Plan option, patients can pre-pay the surgical fee without interest prior to the surgery date. To utilize this option, a non-refundable $250.00 processing fee is mailed to us at: Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, 109 Conner Drive, Suite 2200, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514. At that point, an account is opened in your name and payments of any amount greater than $10.00 can be made as you are able. You do not have to wait until the balance is paid to schedule surgery. However, the balance is due at least three weeks prior to the scheduled surgery date. If you wait to schedule your surgery date until you have reached $5,900.00 in your pre-payment account, you can schedule for this reduced fee. When mailing in payments, please fill out our pre-payment form to send with your payment.

Source: www.tubal-reversal.net/tubal_reversal_pre_payment.htm

Making Tubal Reversal Comfortable For The Patient

The Best Surgical And Anesthetic Techniques Traditionally, tubal reversal surgery is a major operation with several days of recovery in a hospital. This is due to surgical techniques that result in post-operative pain and disability.

Postoperative pain after abdominal surgery is due primarily to injury to the muscles and other tissues that occurs when using standard surgical techniques. For example, abdominal retractors (metal instruments that pull back on the skin and muscles to provide wide exposure for viewing the pelvic organs) cause reduced blood flow to tissues during the entire time they are being held apart by the retractors.

In my experience with over 6000 outpatient tubal reversals, the operation is best performed using no retractors at all, just the surgeon's fingers which are the gentlest of all instruments.

Traditionally, surgical packs (large gauze pads) are placed into the abdomen to push the intestines away from the pelvic organs. These are unnecessary in most cases.

Most surgeons don't think about how to minimize the pain of surgery. They just prescribe strong pain killers afterwards that make the patient sleepy and often unable to move take care of themselves. Since the traditional approach results in hospital care, this doesn't seem to be a problem (from the surgeon's point of view).

By injecting a local anesthetic in all areas where surgery is performed (including the skin), patients can awake in comfort and be alert since they won't need repeated doses of narcotic medications.

These are some of the methods that I use that make tubal reversal comfortable as outpatient surgery. Making the surgery comfortable avoids the need for hospital care and reduces the cost to the patient.

Outpatient Anesthesia at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center

Choosing The Right Tubal Reversal Doctor

Tubal Reversal Message Board discussion about choosing the right doctor for tubal reversal surgery is summarized with this message: "Experience, cost, statistics, bed-side manner.... pick it... decide what criteria you want to use to judge the options on... Dr. Berger will come out on top EVERY TIME!".

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Posted by Thibgirl0028 (Member # 10944) on April 25, 2007 10:52 PM:

I have been researching seems like forever to find the right Dr and i keep coming back here but I am not to safe with that idea I just wish someone can tell me the choices of why Dr Berger he seems wonderful but so confused Helppppppppppppppppppppp. I just need some help on deciding I want to get it done as soon as possible but need the Right Dr

or please u can email me at thibgirl0028@aol.com thanx yall r life savers i am tired of researching I want to hear good and bad

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Posted by Hospicegurl (Member # 10548) on April 25, 2007 11:17 PM:

I hope someone can chime in on this and help you! I haven't done the TR yet. But everytime I looked up anything about it just keep coming back to him the nurses is really great that I do know they will answer any question for you as best as they can.

I think the pregnancy rate speaks for Dr.Berger all in its self.

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Posted by Dreamweaver (Member # 9903) on April 25, 2007 11:40 PM:

I have checked out both Dr.s and I could tell you what I didn't like about the other Dr but I'd rather tell you what I do like about Dr. Berger. He does 4 TR's a day 5 days a week. He has done nothing but TR's for years Has done over 5,000 TR's
He has published numerous medical journals and some books specifically related to TR's His office makes each of us feel special while at Chapel Hill.
Did you do a wikipedia search? It even has him listed in the definition They followup with us, especially through email or phone WHENEVER we have a question or concern. He has been known to fix other issues while performing the TR.
He has a high success rate of repairing most TR's and he lays it on the line with what you can expect once your in recovery for your TTC future.

I know it's confusing because you have the choices between two Dr.s Whichever Dr. you decide to go with, it's needs to be your choice. I made my choice and I am glad of the choice I made. PS I am a lurker on the other board, so I see alot of what happens between the Dr.s operations and honestly, Dr. B I believe was the better choice for ME.

I'm probably missing other important points about Dr. B but I'm sure others will chime in and let you know how they feel about Dr. B.
Good Luck with whichever Dr. you chose.
Karen

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Posted by LOVE & LUCK (Member # 9504) on April 26, 2007 12:27 AM:

Like the others said it speaks for itself, but if I have anything to chime in about it is the fact that I had my TR surgery on April 18th 2006 and had my son on April 2nd 2007. In less then a year I have a beautiful baby in my arms. I think that is the most valid example I can give. Good luck whatever you choose, but Dr. B is the best choice.

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Posted by TheMzD (Member # 6500) on April 26, 2007 01:31 AM:

Thibgirl0028 - I may have a bit of different perspective. I had my TR with Dr B 9/29/04 - it was a wonderful experience, He is amazingly patient, gentle and kind. His staff are truly amazing, and supportive.

I however have not been pregnant. Not a single positive pregnancy test in all this time. There have been months when I've cried when my period starts, and months when I've been angry that we've done everything "right" and still no luck. I do not regret going to Dr Berger though - he gave me the best chance possible to get pregnant. And that is what this surgery is - a chance - so follow your heart, go with the doctor you feel is right for you.

I went with Dr Berger simply because he has the most experience, his techniques have been improved on over YEARS of doing this surgery daily. If your tubes can be repaired, go with the doctor who can give you the best chance possible.

Best wishes as you make your decision,
Kay

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Posted by Nancy Medical Secretary (Member # 4179) on April 26, 2007 08:58 AM:

Thibgirl0028,
I hope these ladies are helping you with your decision. We appreciate all the good things that everyone has to say about Dr. Berger. Please remember that we strive for excellance in the care of each patient, but it is still in God's hands in the end.
If you would like you could get a copy of your operative report from your tubal ligation and fax it to us at 919-967-8637 and one of our tubal nurses will get back with you after reviewing this report with Dr. Berger and advise you on your journey.

Remember there is no charge for this review. Hope to see you soon and wishing the best to you on your decision.
Nancy


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Posted by bridgetmillsaps (Member # 10654) on April 26, 2007 09:06 AM:

As an extremely discriminating and picky client, I can tell you that my experience with Dr. Berger and his staff was absolutely perfect. Even though it's surgery, it's the type of experience that makes you almost miss Chapel Hill after you are gone!

The staff is so cheerful and good-natured...the office is very nice...everyone put me completely at ease before, during, and after surgery. We felt so comfortable with the nurse who came to the Sheraton post-op to check on me. I just can't say enough. And to top it off, I got PG the month after my TR (on Valentine's Day!) and am expecting in December.

They are a class act. I'm SO glad I didn't go anywhere else. I give them an A+++++++++++++++++ rating...and you'll hear a lot of those types of comments on here. It's just an amazing place.

Good luck with your decision and best of luck.
Bridget (age 39)
TR 2-14-07
BFP 3-25-07
EDD 12-06-07
My tubes were 4.5 and 5.5

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Posted by apicolet (Member # 10776) on April 26, 2007 09:14 AM:

Seven years ago I look up getting a TR and prayed about it. I didn't have money at that time. But still look up stuff about Br.Berger and kept coming back to him. I talk to other doctor and there cost was alot more and you had to spend spent time in hosp.

I look to see if I could find anything bad on Dr.Berger and there was nothing. I got my TR 3/3/07 and the staff was wonderful and still are.
Hope this Helps.

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Posted by Eric'sGirl (Member # 10652) on April 26, 2007 09:45 AM:

First - it is your decision... you need to do what you feel in your heart is right for YOU. That being said...

In my opinion, there is NO OTHER DOCTOR! Dr. Berger beats the "competition" HANDS DOWN no matter what facet of TR you explore... Dr. B and his staff treat every woman like she is the only woman in the world.

Before surgery... even if you never make it there... they still do everything they can to answer questions, get the right information in front of you so that you may make an informed decision.

I haven't had mine yet... but I have seen nothing but RAVE REVIEWS for the amazing day you spend with Dr. B and the staff. After surgery... haven't found anything else that compares to the support from Dr. B and his staff - and all the women he has brought together.

Experience, cost, statistics, bed-side manner.... pick it... decide what criteria you want to use to judge the options on... Dr. Berger will come out on top EVERY TIME!

Best of luck to you. We are all here for you... whether you choose Dr. Berger or not.

Chrissy

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Posted by pam mills (Member # 617) on April 26, 2007 11:33 AM:

My heavens, thanks to all of you for such words of praise. I must say that working for Dr Berger is our privilige. Through his leadership and example we have become quite efficient at what we do. My goal is to give each and every patient an experience that feels safe, secure and caring. I want them to know that we are doing our very best to take care of them. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns about your anesthesia 919-968-0611.

Pam Mills, CRNA

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Posted by luv2have-snowbaby (Member # 10410) on April 26, 2007 11:44 AM:

I have to agree with everyone here. It's your choice. I was just like you. But all the signs pointed to Dr.B. I have not even meet him yet but, the nurses a wonderful to speak to. Very informational. I have an idea of what web site you are referring to. I too thought about the other Dr. But after speaking with my Ob/Gyn gave her both web sites she and her experience said Dr. B.

Now the Wikipedia thing if you check out this. I found this Googling around:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubal_reversal

Hope it helps.
Angela VA