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Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: Colon & Rectal Surgery
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (2004)
Professional interests include: anal fistula, fistula, anorectal problems, and more.
217 West Cataldo Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201

Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD is a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA specializing in colon & rectal surgery. She graduated from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 2004 and has 22 years of experience. Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD is affiliated with Providence, PROVIDENCE HEALTH AND SERVICES WASHINGTON and Providence Medical Group - Inland Northwest.

View Doctor's Full Profile (509) 747-6194

Office Locations

217 West Cataldo Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 747-6194
open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD can help you with:

Colectomy (Colon Resection)

Colectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the colon, or the longest part of the large intestine. The colon may be affected by diseases such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. In a colectomy, all or part of the colon that is infected, blocked, or cancerous is removed.

A colectomy may be performed by laparoscopic or open surgery. A laparoscopic colectomy requires several small cuts on the abdomen, and uses a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. Laparoscopic colectomies are less invasive than open procedures. For some individuals, a laparoscopic colectomy may not be possible, and instead an open colectomy is performed. In an open colectomy, a large incision is made on the abdomen. Open colectomies typically require longer recovery periods.

After the incisions are made, a portion of the colon is removed, and the remaining ends of the colon are attached to each other in a procedure called anastomosis. Waste can continue to travel through the body as normal. However, in some situations, it may be necessary for the end of the colon to be attached to an opening in the abdomen, called a stoma. This procedure is called an ostomy. Types of ostomies include:

  • Colostomy, in which the remaining portion of the colon is attached to the abdominal opening.
  • Ileostomy, in which the small intestine is attached to the abdominal opening.

An ostomy bag will be attached to the skin to collect waste. If the entire colon is removed, either an ileostomy is performed, or the small intestine is connected to the anus and waste may pass through as normal.

Stomas may be permanent or temporary. If the stoma is temporary, the ends of the colon will be rejoined in a later procedure. Temporary stomas are generally used to allow time for the colon to heal following surgery.

A colectomy may take between one and four hours. Following the procedure, patients will need to consume a liquid and low fiber diet before gradually returning to their normal diet. Patients will need to stay in the hospital for three to seven days for monitoring. Full recovery and return to normal activity may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the use of a special tool called a colonoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end) to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. The tube is typically inserted anally, and it allows the physician to examine the large intestine from the inside. It may be done at any time to diagnose bowel problems, but routine colonoscopies are advised after the age of 50 to screen for colon cancer.

A colonoscopy may be performed to diagnose:

  • Intestinal ulcers
  • Polyps
  • Bowel cancer
  • An unidentified source of pain or bleeding in the intestine

Patients may be asked to drink only liquids in the days before a colonoscopy, or they may be given an enema to remove residual fecal matter. Before the exam, patients are given medication to help them relax, and then lay on their side on a table. The scope is inserted into the anus and gently moved all the way through the large intestine. Air may be pumped into the intestine to improve the view for the physician. Any polyps that are found will be removed. Then the colonoscope will be withdrawn. A colonoscopy is not usually painful, but patients may feel some bloating or have some cramps right afterward. If patients have polyps removed, they might experience a small amount of bleeding. Any side effects should go away within a few hours.

Proctectomy (Rectum Resection)

Proctectomy is the surgical removal of the rectum, which, along with the anus and colon, is part of the large intestine. Rectal resection (removal) is used in the treatment of cancers and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For rectal cancers that have not spread outside of the large intestine, proctectomy is the primary treatment option.

The type of proctectomy performed depends on the severity and location of the cancer. If the cancer is confined to the rectum, only the rectum will need to be removed. Surgery can be done transanally, without an incision on the stomach, if the cancer can be reached through the anus.

For cancers higher in the rectum (closer to the colon), a low anterior resection is done. Low anterior resection uses an incision on the abdomen to access the cancerous portions of the rectum. The remaining parts of the large intestine can be connected in a procedure called anastomosis, and waste can exit through the anus as usual. In some cases, surgeons may choose to perform a type of anastomosis called temporary ileostomy. This involves attaching the end of the small intestine (ileum) to an opening in the abdomen (stoma), through which waste will exit the body and be collected in a small pouch. This is done if patients have previously undergone other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, to give the remaining ends of the large intestine time to heal before waste passes through them again. The ends will be reconnected at a later date, typically within several weeks.

For rectal cancer that has spread to the anus, abdominoperineal resection is an option. Abdominoperineal resection removes the cancerous lower rectum along with part or all of the anus and, sometimes, part of the colon. Removing part of the anus can lead to waste leaking, so a permanent colostomy is always done during abdominoperineal resection. Colostomy is similar to ileostomy, but instead of the ileum, the end of the colon is attached to a stoma, through which waste will flow into a collection bag. Surgeons will make incisions in the abdomen and around the anus to perform this procedure.

For the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, proctocolectomy is done. IBD causes infections and ulcers to occur in the colon, but it can spread to other parts of the large intestine as well, such as the rectum. If this is the case, removing the rectum along with the colon in a proctocolectomy can be used to treat IBD in the event that it has not responded to conservative approaches, such as medication.

After a proctectomy, patients will need to stay in the hospital for around one week, if they experience no complications. Patients may receive restrictions on diet and physical activity following the procedure, as well as medication to treat any pain. If patients have a stoma, they will also be given instructions on how to care for it. Full recovery may take up to six weeks.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, lab tests and blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 40
doctor visit 159
gastrointestinal procedures 13
hospital care 98
inpatient care 98
lab tests 51
minimally invasive procedures 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, blood draw and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 40
doctor visit 184
gastrointestinal procedures 37
hospital care 72
inpatient care 72
lab tests 22
manometry 12
minimally invasive procedures 14

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 77
Female 132
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 197
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 105
From 75 to 84 50
85 and over 26
Less than 65 28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2013

Hypertension 65
High Cholesterol 57
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 36
Depression 30
Chronic Kidney Disease 26
Asthma 7
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 14
Heart Failure 19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 25
Dementia 6
Cancer 27

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 31

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 41
Female 51
Age
From 65 to 74 36
From 75 to 84 23
85 and over 13
Less than 65 20

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2014

Hypertension 72
High Cholesterol 50
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 36
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 27
Asthma 13
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 15
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 26
Dementia 0
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 51
inpatient care 51

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 76
Female 64
Age
From 65 to 74 50
From 75 to 84 28
85 and over 22
Less than 65 40

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2015

Hypertension 64
High Cholesterol 47
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 37
Depression 44
Chronic Kidney Disease 37
Asthma 40
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 20
Heart Failure 19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 27
Dementia 0
Cancer 27

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 138
hospital care 171
inpatient care 171

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 59
Female 126
Age
From 65 to 74 65
From 75 to 84 56
85 and over 21
Less than 65 43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2016

Hypertension 63
High Cholesterol 39
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 42
Asthma 25
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 30
Dementia 14
Cancer 29

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, removal of lesion (e.g. growth) and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures 11
doctor visit 137
gastrointestinal procedures 11
hospital care 195
inpatient care 195
minimally invasive procedures 11
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 11

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 83
Female 142
Age
From 65 to 74 89
From 75 to 84 65
85 and over 28
Less than 65 43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2017

Hypertension 66
High Cholesterol 42
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 27
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 41
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 11
Atrial Fibrilation 15
Heart Failure 17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 26
Dementia 12
Cancer 32

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 106
hospital care 175
inpatient care 175

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 70
Female 124
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 180
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 102
From 75 to 84 58
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2018

Hypertension 57
High Cholesterol 45
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 23
Depression 31
Chronic Kidney Disease 34
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 9
Heart Failure 13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 14
Diabetes 22
Dementia 8
Cancer 28

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 195
hospital care 118
inpatient care 118

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 83
Female 166
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 230
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 113
From 75 to 84 52
85 and over 32
Less than 65 52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2019

Hypertension 59
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 26
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 38
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 11
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 17
Diabetes 27
Dementia 11
Cancer 28

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and abdominal surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

abdominal surgery 15
doctor visit 175
gastrointestinal procedures 15
hospital care 103
inpatient care 103
minimally invasive procedures 15

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 64
Female 135
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 186
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 93
From 75 to 84 55
85 and over 17
Less than 65 34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2020

Hypertension 55
High Cholesterol 39
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 25
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 31
Asthma 9
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 21
Dementia 12
Cancer 30

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 165

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 60
Female 116
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 158
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 78
From 75 to 84 51
85 and over 21
Less than 65 26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2021

Hypertension 62
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 27
Depression 32
Chronic Kidney Disease 38
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 23
Dementia 10
Cancer 28

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2022 were minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 174
gastrointestinal procedures 13
minimally invasive procedures 13

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 61
Female 105
Age
From 65 to 74 65
From 75 to 84 51
85 and over 14
Less than 65 36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2022

Hypertension 67
High Cholesterol 61
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 23
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 23
Asthma 13
Osteoperosis 22
Atrial Fibrilation 21
Heart Failure 12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 23
Dementia 7
Cancer 40

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2023 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 201
gastrointestinal procedures 19
hospital care 33
inpatient care 33
minimally invasive procedures 19

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 80
Female 132
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 201
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 101
From 75 to 84 55
85 and over 26
Less than 65 30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2023

Hypertension 66
High Cholesterol 60
Stroke 6
Ischemic Heart Disease 18
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 22
Atrial Fibrilation 21
Heart Failure 17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 17
Diabetes 21
Dementia 9
Cancer 39

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA during 2024 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 142
hospital care 33
inpatient care 33

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 63
Female 125
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 176
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 89
From 75 to 84 66
85 and over 15
Less than 65 18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD in 2024

Hypertension 68
High Cholesterol 60
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 28
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 21
Atrial Fibrilation 18
Heart Failure 13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 21
Dementia 7
Cancer 46

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated as a colon and rectal surgeon in Spokane, WA were hospital care, inpatient care, blood draw and lab tests.

abdominal surgery 15
blood draw 40
diagnostic procedures 11
doctor visit 150
gastrointestinal procedures 18
hospital care 104
inpatient care 104
lab tests 36
manometry 12
minimally invasive procedures 14
removal of lesion (e.g. growth) 11

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD.

Gender
Male 62
Female 109
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 102
Hispanic 0
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 46
85 and over 18
Less than 65 28
65 to 74 75

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension 58
High Cholesterol 45
Stroke 1
Ischemic Heart Disease 25
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 13
Osteoporosis 11
Heart Failure 14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 17
Diabetes 22
Atrial Fibrillation 13
Cancer 28
Dementia 7

Education & Training

Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD graduated from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 2004. She completed residency at Oregon Health & Science University Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the American Board of Surgery, Surgery (General Surgery) and has a state license in Washington.

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (2004)

Residency: Oregon Health & Science University Affiliated Hospitals (2011)

Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery (General Surgery)

Licensed In: Washington

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA PPO, CIGNA HMO, Molina Healthcare, TriWest, Medicare and First Choice PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA PPO
CIGNA HMO
Molina Healthcare
TriWest
Medicare
First Choice PPO

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 137 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Spokane, WA. 

4.7
Overall Rating
Leave a Review
Reviews Left On DocSpot
Overall Rating: 1.0 2020-11-03 
Dara Heisler Christante is an uprofessional, rude, egotistical sociopath who will insult you if you do not worship her uninformed medical opinion. My dog understands disease better than this quack.

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Dara Heisler Christante, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. $3,399 Da Vinci Surgical System
$3,399
Medtronic USA, Inc. $77 Sacral Nerve Stimulation - Neuro
$48 		INTERSTIM
$28
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd $69 Solesta
$69
Mallinckrodt LLC $45 OFIRMEV
$45
Ethicon US, LLC $26 Biologics
$26
Other $98 Vessel Sealing
$24 		Spy
$20 		FLUENT FLUID MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
$15 		GATTEX
$15 		OSTOMY CARE
$14 		Other
$11
Types of Payments
Education $3,000
Food and Beverage $669
Travel and Lodging $26
Gift $17

Biography

Dr. Dara Christante is a colon & rectal surgery specialist. Dr. Christante graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. For her residency, Dr. Christante trained at a hospital affiliated with Oregon Health & Science University. Clinical interests for Dr. Christante include incision and drainage of perianal abscess, polypectomy (polyp removal), and surgical repair. She has a 4.5 out of 5 star average patient rating. She appears to be in-network for Molina Healthcare, Cigna, CIGNA Plans, and more. Dr. Christante is affiliated with Providence. According to Providence, new patients are welcome to contact Dr. Christante's office in Spokane, WA.

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