Tubal Reversal Blog ‘surgical technique’

Surgical Technologists at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center

Surgical technologists, also called surgical technicians, are the unsung heros of the surgical team at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Patients have little interaction with them except when they are in the operating room. The surgical techs are not easily recognizable behind their surgical masks and during most of the time patients are in the operating room they are asleep! The surgical technicians, however, are responsible for making sure that all equipment is in perfect working order, the operating rooms are meticulous, and that all equipment and instruments are sterile. Their training and working every day with Dr. Berger ensures that tubal reversal procedures go smoothly, safely, and that patients are under anesthesia for the minimal length of time necessary. They must think and act quickly, safely, and accurately to assist the surgeon to achieve the optimal surgical technique throughout the entire operation, from the time a patient goes to sleep until she awakes.

Meet Our Surgical Technologists

Below is a brief history about our outstanding team of surgical techs introducing them from the left to the right in the photo. Here is a link to the web site page about our four surgical technologists at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Matt Murphy, ST underwent his training as a surgical technician at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center where he has worked since 2005. During this time, Matt took a break to work abroad. He describes his time away as an enlightening, growth experience. Matt says that Dr. Berger is always encouraging him to research topics about surgical technique and to continue his education. Matt’s favorite subjects are science and medicine and he is in the process of getting his associates degree in science. Matt’s fluency in Spanish permits him to communicate easily with Spanish speaking patients.

Brandon Martin-Williams, ST also was trained at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center as a surgical techician where he has worked since 2006. During his time at Chapel Hill Surgical Center Brandon has become interested in furthering his career in medicine. Even while working full-time, Brandon has been taking classes to finish his bachelor’s degree in Biology. Brandon hopes to go to medical school in the near future. With his demonstrated skills in the operating room, Dr. Berger believes that Brandon would be an excellent doctor.

Donna Sisson, ST has worked as a first assistant to Dr. Berger in surgery since 1990. Prior to coming to Chapel Hill Surgical Center, she worked as a surgical technologist at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, SC and at Durham Ambulatory Care in Durham, NC where she specialized in gynecological and plastic surgery procedures. Donna says that working with Dr. Berger is particularly rewarding because Dr. Berger always strives to be on the leading edge of his profession. Donna was Dr. Berger’s first assistant in the Learning Channel’s documentary “The Operation” that features Dr. Berger performing Outpatient Tubal Ligation Reversal.

Kathy Sronce, ST has been a surgical technician at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center since 2005. She previously worked as a surgical technologist at Durham Regional Hospital in Durham, NC. Kathy appreciates the fact that Dr. Berger and all of the staff at the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center are extremely devoted to their patients. Kathy is an integral member of this caring team who work so well together and who concentrate on optimal surgical technique to ensure a successful experience for tubal reversal patients.

Dr. Berger’s Comment

Over the many years I have been performing tubal reversal surgery, I can truly say that I have never worked with a more professional, well trained, and competent surgical team than the one that currently exists at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Not only are these individuals professionals in every sense, but also they are exceptional people who are truly dedicated to providing the best and safest care to patients that is possible. Although the patients who come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center are often unaware of the importance of these essential team members, our patients benefit everyday from the extraordinary way that our surgical technologists do their jobs. It is one of the many factors that makes Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center stand out for its excellence in patient care.

About Me

Sometimes patients ask about my background and why I became a tubal reversal doctor. (It’s a fair question, since I ask them what made them decide to have a tubal reversal.) I usually tell them about my first year after medical school when I was an intern in medicine at Duke University Hospital taking care of critically ill and dying patients. That is when I decided to devote my medical career to assisting with the beginning of life rather than its ending.

Influential Teachers

The first tubal surgery that I assisted in was during my first year of residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1970. At the University of North Carolina where I completed my residency, Dr. Jaroslav Hulka (the inventor of the Hulka clip) taught me the basic principles of tubal reversal surgery. In 1976, I went to Europe to learn tubal microsurgery from Dr. Robert Winston. Dr. Winston’s microsurgical method was an advancement but also a major operation of several hours duration resulting in hospitalization for 5 days or more.

My goal was to make tubal reversal easier to undergo and less costly for the patient. This was accomplished by combining the best principles of gyn surgery, microsurgery, and plastic surgery techniques. I had the great fortune of operating for many years with the renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Erle Peacock, author of the surgical text entitled “Wound Healing”.

Outpatient Tubal Reversal

By the mid-1980s, I developed the outpatient surgical approach to tubal ligation reversal that I use – and continue to improve upon – to this day. What was a major and expensive in-hospital operation with prolonged recovery became a comfortable outpatient procedure that is affordable for most couples. It is the most gentle operation that exists for restoring tubal anatomy and has resulted in the birth of more babies in the world than any other tubal reconstructive operation.

Anyone who is interested in seeing how I perform outpatient tubal ligation reversal can watch the entire operation that was recorded on video and shown on Discovery and TLC. In this video, each step of the procedure is described as it is performed.

My Viewpoint

I have been fortunate to have had the best teachers in the world in the art of surgical technique as it applies to the fallopian tube. Specializing in tubal reversal surgery over the past 30 years has allowed me to assist more than 6000 couples in the beginning of life with the safest, most comfortable, and most successful tubal reversal operation.