Long Island Community Hospital’s partnership with outstanding surgeons, anesthesiologists and staff make us one of the most patient and family-focused operating suites on Long Island.

Surgical Services

At LI Community Hospital, our staff is dedicated to delivering a superior level of personalized care. Your surgical treatment will be performed in our fully equipped operating rooms using sophisticated instrumentation. Our surgical suites are equipped with the latest technologies, enabling us to offer the least invasive, safest and most-effective forms of treatment. Your surgeon will provide you with the most appropriate treatment option for your specific circumstances.

The Hospital’s wide range of surgical services includes:

  • Bariatric
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery
  • General Surgery
  • Gynecologic Surgery
  • Ophthalmology (Cataract and Retinal Surgery)
  • Orthopedics and Spine
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Podiatric Surgery
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Urological Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery

Bariatric Surgery
Accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), the only accreditation program recognized by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), our bariatric surgery program combines the expertise of our weight loss specialists with a patient-centered environment. We offer a dedicated and compassionate staff to support and guide you every step of the way.

Colorectal Surgery
Our colorectal surgeons work closely with gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, pathologists and oncologists to coordinate care for colon and rectal diseases as needed by each individual patient. We can diagnose and treat a wide variety of colon and rectal diseases such as: anal cancer, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, polyps, rectal prolapse, diverticular disease, anal condyloma, anal fissure, anal fistula, anal sphincter repair and pilonidal cyst.

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery
In collaboration with distinguished, board-certified otolaryngologists, the Hospital provides diagnoses and treatments for a wide variety of ear, nose, throat, head and neck conditions for patients of all ages. We have extensive experience and training in treating pediatric patients so you can rest assured that you or your child will receive excellent care. The most common surgeries and conditions we treat are: tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, thyroidectomy, parotdiectomy, tracheostomy, myringotomy, CO2 laser vaporization of vocal cord polyps, laryngectomy, laryngoscopy, esophagoscopy, reduction nasal fracture, endoscopic and image-guided sinus procedures, SMR, ethmoidectomy, turbinectomy and balloon sinuplasty.

General Surgery
Commonly performed surgeries include: laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colon resection, excision of cysts, lipomas and lesions, diagnostic laparoscopy, biopsies, surgeries of the stomach, liver and spleen and more.

Gynecologic Surgery
At the Hospital we respect a woman’s dignity when faced with gynecologic surgery and promise to provide you with privacy and comfort during this challenging time. We treat and diagnose a wide range of conditions including: stress incontinence, cervical and uterine cancer, miscarriage, uterine fibroids and polyps, abnormal vaginal bleeding, tubal pregnancy and ovarian cysts. Using state-of-the-art equipment, we can perform your hysteroscopy, hysterectomy, diagnostic laparoscopy or other indicted procedures with accuracy and minimal risk.

Ophthalmology (Cataract and Retinal Surgery)
In collaboration with many local ophthalmologists, we provide care for a variety of conditions associated with your eyes. Treatment of cataracts and intraocular lens insertion is one of the many operations our expert ophthalmologists perform. We also treat macular disease with retinal surgery and leading-edge technology.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Long Island Community Hospital is the perfect choice for cosmetic, aesthetic, reconstructive and surgeries needed as a result of trauma or disease. We realize that the decision to have surgery is not a minor one, so our specialized team assures you that we will perform your procedure with the utmost consideration of your safety and privacy. The surgeons affiliated with us are highly skilled in many procedures including: body reshaping after weight loss, cosmetic surgery of the face, breast enlargement/reduction and reconstruction after cancer, liposuction, surgery/microsurgery of hand injuries, maxillofacial trauma, scar reconstruction, treatment of skin cancer and skin grafts/wound healing.

Podiatric Surgery
The podiatrists affiliated with the Hospital are not only extremely personable, but they are also committed to providing care beyond measure in the treatment of various conditions of the foot including bunions, hammertoes, plantar warts, arthritic deformities and more. Our specialty team also has expertise in the management of diabetic foot problems.

Thoracic Surgery
Long Island Community Hospital offers the latest and most trusted treatments in thoracic surgery. Our board-certified surgeons can accurately treat and diagnose your condition assuring personalized care. Minimally invasive video-assisted thoracotomy (VATS) is just one of the few innovations that our team uses to provide more comfortable and safer care to diagnose and treat your lung condition.

Trauma Surgical Services
As a Level III Trauma Center, we provide coverage around the clock and can perform rapid and precise interventions in life and death situations. We hope that you or your loved ones will never suffer from traumatic accidents, but critical injuries can occur. The Hospital’s trauma team is ready and dedicated to saving the lives of our neighbors in their most vulnerable hours.

Urological Surgery
Long Island Community Hospital offers urological care to men and women with disorders of the urethra, urinary bladder, kidneys, penis, testicles and prostate. If you suffer with stones of the urinary tract, incontinence, impotency, urinary tract infections, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), hematuria (blood in the urine) or cancer, we can diagnosis and treat your problem with the most advanced modalities. The team of urologists collaborating with us is distinguished and renowned. Together, our goal is to provide you with the most effective treatment choices, including: cystoscopy, ureteroscopy/stent placement, lithotripsy, TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), TURBT (transurethral resection of a bladder tumor), nephrectomy (removal of the kidney), prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), vaginal sling, penile implants, vasectomy, orchiectomy, torsion of the testicle and hydroceles.

Vascular Surgery
The Hospital has great success in treating peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and other vascular conditions such as carotid stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm. We also provide vascular access for patients.

Our operating suites combine the ability of vascular interventions requiring high-tech angiography in conjunction with the sterile environment. This facilitates both surgical exposures and catheter-based interventions.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 8 million Americans have peripheral artery disease (PAD). A large percentage of these do not have symptoms until the disease progresses. People with PAD have a higher risk of death from heart attack or stroke. While many people can be treated with medications, lifestyle changes or both, some will require surgery or angioplasty. The Vascular/Endovascular experts at LI Community Hospital will provide you with unprecedented care.

Surgery & Perioperative

Our services include Surgical Pre-Admission Testing, Ambulatory/Outpatient Surgery, Pain Management, Post-Anesthesia Care, Endoscopy, as well as services provided for longer-stay inpatients.

What to Expect:

At LI Community Hospital, we understand that no surgery is routine from a patient’s point of view, so we promise to provide the personal attention you deserve. We want you to be as informed as possible, and we want to know as much about you as we can to assure that we provide you with the safest possible care. Here’s what you can expect from us.

Presurgical Testing
Located on the north side of the building next to the Emergency Department, our Presurgical Testing will treat you and your family with respect and dignity while gathering all of the information that your surgical team needs in order to provide an individualized plan of care for you. Enter through the Outpatient entrance, and an employee from our friendly team will be happy to direct you.

We will call you to set up an appointment for testing prior to your scheduled surgery. The Hospital’s compassionate, caring staff encourages your participation in the care that you will receive, so be prepared to ask questions and express your concerns.

Before Your Surgery
The day before your scheduled surgery, we’ll call and give you a time to come into the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. All of the instructions that you need will be clearly communicated to you.

Outpatient Procedures
The Hospital’s Outpatient Procedure Area is another example of our commitment to excellence. Located in the southeast corner of the hospital in newly renovated suites, the private setting offers procedures in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere while your family and friends are close by.

Our aim is to provide prompt service by qualified professionals who are dedicated to performance excellence and collaboration in a compassionate environment.

After Your Surgery
Following your operation, you will be moved to an area referred to as the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Here you will be closely monitored and cared for while recovering from your anesthesia. You will remain here until you are medically stable, your pain is managed, and the effects of anesthesia are such you are safe to be transferred to a surgical unit or discharged home.

The PACU nursing staff will monitor your vital signs frequently and encourage you to breathe deeply and cough. You may receive oxygen through a mask or a device called a nasal cannula. Your physical and emotional status will be evaluated frequently.

TIPS

FAQs

What does "monitoring vital signs" mean?

Vital signs are facts about your health that can be measured and may change for various reasons. Long Island Community Hospital’s team will monitor your vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and level of pain) in order to provide the best possible treatment to assure your safety and comfort.

Will I need an IV for surgery?

Almost all patients require an intravenous catheter during the perioperative period. This allows medications and fluids into your body through the vein. The IV catheter is flexible and allows freedom of movement.

Will it be cold in the operating room?

Operating rooms are kept between 68-73 degrees. We make it a priority to keep you warm during your surgery by using warming blankets and other warming devices.

Will I need to have a urinary catheter for my operation?

This is a question you may want to ask your surgeon. “Catheter” is a term used to describe a tube. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist may require a “foley” to be placed into your urinary bladder for your safety, depending on the length and type of procedure you are having. Your body makes urine, and the volume you make is a sign of the state of your health. Unless otherwise indicated, your foley will be removed by the first or second day postoperatively.

Will I have to remove my dentures?

Tell your anesthesiologist if you have dentures, partial plates or artificial or capped teeth. Depending on the type of anesthesia you receive, your dentures or plates may need to be removed for your safety. You can bring in your own container if you like, or we can provide one for you. If it is necessary to remove them, you will be asked as close to your operation as possible, and they will be returned to you as soon as you are safely awake.

May I invite my family and friends to come with me?

Yes, you may. Remember, however, that you may be anxious before surgery and tired afterward. Our surgical waiting area is close by, and family and friends will be notified when you can be seen after the operation. Visitors are not always allowed into PACU where you will go immediately after surgery. If you are returning home the same day as surgery, you will need to have someone to drive you and care for you for a period following surgery.

When will I be reunited with my friends and family?

Visitation is determined by the activity and level of acuity of patients in the PACU. Your friends and family may be allowed to visit. We encourage visitors to wait until you are out of the primary recovery area.

How long will I spend in the PACU?

This varies depending upon the type of procedure and anesthesia used. The nursing staff or the surgeon will notify your visitors when you have arrived to the PACU and will be discharged from PACU.

Will I feel nauseous when I wake up?

Nausea after surgery is due to many factors and is not uncommon after surgery. With new methods of anesthesia care and new drugs (called antiemetics) to control nausea, the likelihood you have nausea is much lower than it has been in the past. Prevention of nausea is always considered very important as part of your care.

Where do I go when I leave the PACU?

Where you go next mostly depends on the way you were scheduled for surgery. If you are scheduled to stay in the hospital overnight, you will leave the PACU on a stretcher or bed and go to the nursing unit, where you will be greeted and evaluated by dedicated staff members.

If you are scheduled as an outpatient and expect to go home that day, you will be returned to the same area where you were admitted. The same caring team will allow you to go home once they have determined it is safe to do so. You will be given all of the instructions you need to care for yourself over the next few days. We encourage your family and companions to hear this information. When you leave, you may be drowsy or unsteady on your feet, so we insist that a family member or companion takes you home.

How much pain will I be in when I wake up?

Each person feels pain differently. At Long Island Community Hospital we are committed to the management of your pain. Our staff will obtain a pain assessment which will include:

  • your description and location of your pain.
  • the intensity of your pain scored on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being the least intense and 10 being the most intense pain you have ever experienced).
  • any activities which can precipitate your pain.
  • if you have chronic pain, what level is a comfortable level acceptable for you.

Once evaluated, a treatment plan will be formulated and discussed with you. This treatment plan may include the following:

  • medications.
  • positioning for comfort.
  • heat or cold applications to the affected area.
  • diversionary activities.
  • goals to be met.

After implementation of your specific pain management plan, our staff will continually monitor your physiological and psychological response to your specific pain management plan to access its success in reaching the goal of managing your pain. The plan, implementation, assessment and reassessment will continue until the mutually agreed upon goal has been met or you become pain free.

For your planned surgery, your anesthesiologist will discuss postoperative pain management options, which may include a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), a regional block such as epidural or a femoral block to control postoperative pain or medications. Your questions will be answered prior to the surgery in an effort to keep you well informed of your specific pain management plan.