When Skill Really Counts
Ramon Gerber can describe his Lansdale Hospital experience in one word: extraordinary!
It all began with a serious scare. The 62-year-old Towamencin Township executive awoke one night to find a large amount of blood in his urine, a condition known as hematuria.
“I knew something was wrong,” Ramon says, “so I went to Lansdale Hospital’s Emergency Department right away.” The Emergency physicians called in Urologist Stuart Kremer, DO, to serve as his attending physician. Dr. Kremer ordered a CT scan of Ramon’s kidneys to evaluate the urinary tract for causes of hematuria.
Dr. Kremer explains, “When we evaluated Ramon, we found that he had a mass on his right kidney consistent with renal cell carcinoma. After determining there was no clinical evidence of spread, the best option was to remove the kidney. We are able to do that by minimally invasive means, which results in less risk, blood loss, and post-operative pain, as well as faster recovery for the patient.”
The procedure is called a “hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.” Dr. Kremer, along with his associate, Brian Rosenthal, DO, made three small incisions: one in which to insert a tiny camera, the second for the working instruments, and the third for insertion of the surgeon’s hand.
Guided by magnified images from the camera, the urologic surgeon then separated the kidney from the blood vessels and surrounding structures. The kidney was then able to be removed and brought out through the hand opening. The intense focus paid off. Ramon spent only three days in the hospital and received the good news. He was cancer free.
“I must say, the people at Lansdale Hospital were just tremendous,” Ramon recalls. “I remember ringing the bell and the hospital’s chief nursing officer (Nancy G. Hesse, RN) answered. She was interested in how I was feeling and if there was anything the hospital could do to make my stay better.”
Dr. Kremer was impressed by Ramon’s motivation, too. Owner of a manufacturing firm, the married father of three did not need rehabilitation. A week after Ramon left the hospital, he started going into his office a few hours a day. He also returned to swimming at his local gym.
“I’m just so grateful for how it all worked out,” Ramon says. “Dr. Kremer and everyone at the hospital – they were wonderful.”
There’s nothing better than a clean bill of health.
