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Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS is in Philadelphia, PA specializing in bariatric surgery and general surgery. Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS is affiliated with UNIVERSITY OF PENN - MEDICAL GROUP.
Pancreatectomy (Pancreas Removal)
Pancreatectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas to treat pancreatitis, tumors, or cancer. The pancreas is located behind the stomach and near the small intestine and spleen. There are three sections of the pancreas:
Pancreas removal procedures differ based on how much of the pancreas and surrounding organs are removed. There are three types of pancreatectomy:
Pancreatectomy can be done by open or minimally invasive surgery. During a laparoscopic pancreatectomy, the surgeon will use tiny incisions to insert a thin tube with a camera, or laparoscope, into the abdomen. Open surgery, or a laparotomy, is performed through a larger incision on the abdomen. If additional organs are removed, some procedures may require that the small intestine be reconnected to the stomach.
The hospital for pancreatectomy stay may be between 1-3 weeks. Generally, laparoscopic surgeries require shorter recovery periods. Whether patients undergo an open or laparoscopic procedure is determined by factors such as their condition and the extent of their procedure. For example, open surgery tends to be more common for distal pancreatectomies. If patients have difficulty eating, they may require a nasogastric tube, inserted through the nose, to carry food to their stomachs. A catheter can be inserted into the bladder if patients have trouble urinating. Full recovery may take about two months.
Small Bowel Resection
Small bowel resection is a surgical procedure performed to remove all or part of the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs nutrients from food and passes waste to the large bowel. Tumors or conditions such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease can cause injury to the intestine or lead to blockage. To allow the small intestine to function normally, surgery to remove part of the intestine may be necessary.
Small bowel resection can be done through either a laparoscopic or open approach. If someone is having a laparoscopic small bowel resection, their surgeon will make multiple small incisions on the abdomen and insert a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. If they are having an open small bowel resection, a large cut is made on the abdomen to expose the intestine. A laparoscopic small bowel resection is associated with less pain and requires a shorter recovery period, but depending on the condition, patients may have to undergo an open procedure.
After making the necessary incisions, the surgeon will remove the targeted portion of the intestine and then perform an anastomosis. Depending on the amount of intestine left, an anastomosis may involve the surgeon either joining together the ends of the intestine or creating a stoma which is an opening in the abdomen. In this procedure, called an ileostomy, the end of the small intestine (ileum) is attached to the opening in the abdominal wall. A drainage pouch will be attached to the skin to collect waste.
Stomas may be permanent or temporary. If the stoma is temporary, the ends of the intestine will be rejoined in a later procedure. Temporary stomas are generally used to allow time for the intestines to heal following surgery.
Small bowel resection is typically completed in one to four hours. After the operation, patients will need to stay in the hospital for a few days, and it may take some time before they can return to their normal diet.
Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)
Bariatric or weight-loss surgery is a surgical procedure performed to help significantly obese patients lose weight when more traditional methods, such as dieting and exercise, have not helped. Depending on the type, these surgeries change the gastrointestinal tract to limit how much food can be eaten and also change how food is absorbed by the body. Of the various bariatric surgeries available, the most common is gastric bypass.
By far the most common of the gastric bypass surgeries is called Roux-en-Y. During this surgery, part of the stomach and small intestine are detached from the gastrointestinal tract, in order to make the tract smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into two parts. The working stomach, at the end of the esophagus, is now tiny - only the size of a walnut. This makes patients feel full after eating a small amount of food. Then the small intestine is also divided, and after bypassing a section of the small intestine to reduce food absorption, the intestine is attached to the small stomach pouch. The patient now has a working stomach and intestine like before, only much smaller.
Because gastric bypass is used to treat extreme obesity, it can reduce the risk of some of the problems associated with obesity. Gastric bypass can help treat or reduce the risk for such conditions as heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. However, it is a major surgery and also carries risks itself. Any surgery can lead to infection, bleeding, or blood clots, and weight loss surgery in particular carries risks of leaks in the gastrointestinal system, malnutrition, bowel obstructions, and vomiting.
Typically patients are considered candidates for gastric bypass surgery if they have a BMI greater than 40, or sometimes if they have a BMI between 35 and 40 but are suffering from obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes. The outlook is generally good, with most patients losing between 50-75% of their excess weight in 1-2 years. However, patients must follow strict diet guidelines so that the stomach can heal, starting with no food at all, then followed by a liquid diet for some time. For many severely obese patients who have tried strict diets before without success, gastric bypass surgery is the tool that allows them to finally achieve their weight loss and health goals.
She has a state license in Pennsylvania.
Licensed In: Pennsylvania
Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA PPO, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, CIGNA EPO, AmeriHealth, Cigna, Medicare - Pennsylvania, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Workers Comp, Keystone Health Plan East HMO, Highmark Blue Shield BlueCare Custom PPO, Keystone Health Plan East POS, Highmark Blue Shield Freedom Blue PPO, Highmark Blue Shield Complete Blue PPO Choice Deluxe, Highmark Blue Shield Complete Blue PPO Premier, UPMC Health Plan Community HealthChoices, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) HMO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) POS, Rail Road Medicare/Palmetto GBA, Highmark Blue Shield PPO, Highmark Blue Shield My Blue Access PPO, Highmark Blue Shield My Direct Blue EPO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Personal Choice EPO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Personal Choice 65 (Prime, Saver, Elite) PPO, Highmark Blue Shield First Priority Life (FPLIC) - AffordaBlue PPO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Personal Choice PPO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Proactive HMO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Keystone HMO, Keystone Health Plan East Keystone65 (Essential, Basic, Select, Liberty) HMO, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Behavioral Health, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) PPO and UPMC Health Plan - UPMC for You (PA HealthChoices).
According to our sources, Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS accepts the following insurance providers:
Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.88 out of 5 stars based on 417 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Ms. Alyssa Maria Avallone, PA, MHS from all over the web to help you find the right in Philadelphia, PA.
Ms. Alyssa Avallone obtained a license to practice in New Jersey.
