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Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery and Bariatric Medicine

University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

Professional interests include: LGBT issues, hernia surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and more.

6600 Westown Parkway Suite 220
West Des Moines, IA 50266

(515) 241-2250

Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS is a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA specializing in bariatric surgery, general surgery and bariatric medicine. He graduated from University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS is affiliated with UnityPoint Health.

Office Locations

1301 Penn Avenue Suite 411
Des Moines, IA 50316

(515) 265-1300

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UnityPoint Health

6600 Westown Parkway Suite 220
West Des Moines, IA 50266

(515) 241-2265

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Some issues Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS can help you with:

LGBT Issues

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, and is indicative of a greater spectrum of different sexualities and genders that some people may identify with. LGBT issues are issues that LGBT people may face in their daily life, affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Adverse experiences and stigmas may contribute to depression, anxiety, and undue stress in LGBT people. Common LGBT issues may include:

Harassment and bullying
Social rejection
Higher risk of suicide

Healthcare providers are working to provide more inclusive care for people of all sexual orientations and identities. Some choose to address LGBT issues through procedures such as chest reconstruction, facial feminization surgery, masculinization surgery, and glottoplasty (surgery to raise the pitch of one's voice). Sensitive OB-GYN care and hormone therapy may also be options for people with LGBT issues.

LGBT therapy can also help people navigate LGBT issues and mental health problems. LGBT affirmative therapy specializes in creating "affirmative" spaces for people who are LGBT. LGBT affirmative therapists use patients' preferred pronouns, address homophobia and social biases, and act as LGBT advocates in their talk therapy sessions.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a kind of minimally invasive surgery using a thin, narrow tube called a laparoscope. Usually performed on the abdomen or the pelvic region, the surgeon makes a few very small incisions instead of one large one.

During the procedure, the surgeon inserts the laparoscope, which contains a light and camera that allows the surgeon to see what is happening inside the body. Then tiny tools are placed through the small openings and used to perform the surgery.

The most common laparoscopic surgery is gallbladder removal, but laparoscopic surgery may also be used for the removal of a kidney or appendix, to treat certain cysts and tumors, for bariatric surgery, for some GERD treatments, or for hernia repairs, among others.

Because laparoscopic surgery only uses a few tiny incisions, the scars are minimal and recovery is easier than with open surgery.

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.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2012 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	93
hospital care	156
inpatient care	156

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	41

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	41

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	25
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2013

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	44
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	43
hospital care	30
inpatient care	30

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	46
Female	48

**Age**
From 65 to 74	34
From 75 to 84	25
85 and over	16
Less than 65	19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2014

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	68
hospital care	102
inpatient care	102

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	96
Female	164

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	228
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	60
85 and over	34
Less than 65	64

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	39
Dementia	10
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	90
hospital care	195
inpatient care	195

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	89
Female	99

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	166
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	69
From 75 to 84	40
85 and over	27
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	40
Dementia	11
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	88
gastrointestinal procedures	37
hospital care	200
inpatient care	200
minimally invasive procedures	37
weight management	21

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	96

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	148
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	19
Less than 65	48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	43
Dementia	11
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	72
hospital care	78
inpatient care	78

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	69

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	94
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	15
85 and over	11
Less than 65	34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	41
Depression	60
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	41
Dementia	10
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2019 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	77
gastrointestinal procedures	37
hospital care	36
inpatient care	36
minimally invasive procedures	37
weight management	19

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	31
Female	56

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	74
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	40
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	59
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	45
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA during 2020 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures and weight management.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	53
gastrointestinal procedures	32
minimally invasive procedures	32
weight management	15

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	19
Female	44

**Age**
From 65 to 74	33
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2020

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	52
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	38
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	20

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	14
Female	22

**Age**
From 65 to 74	17
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	53
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	53
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Des Moines, IA were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

doctor visit	59
gastrointestinal procedures	35
hospital care	113
inpatient care	113
minimally invasive procedures	35
weight management	18

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	39
Female	58

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	64
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	18
85 and over	9
Less than 65	22
65 to 74	39

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and diabetes.

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	6
Osteoporosis	1
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	10
Dementia	3
Cancer	6

Education & Training

Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS graduated from University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. He completed residency at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and has a state license in Iowa.

Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

Residency: Iowa Methodist Medical Center

Board Certification: American Board of Surgery

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UnityPoint Health

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Steven A. Cahalan, MD, FACS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Baxter Healthcare	$1,786 BioSurgery - PERI-STRIPS $1,040	COSEAL $681	BioSurgery - VERITAS $65
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$1,233 Da Vinci Surgical System $1,233
Ethicon US, LLC	$125 Echelon Flex $108	Sutures $17
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	$90 Wound Matrix $90
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.	$79 ELIQUIS $79
Other	$344 PHASIX $69	STRATTICE $55	NASCOBAL $43	AirSeal $40	Saxenda $22	Other $114

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$2,651
Food and Beverage	$1,005

Biography

Dr. Steven Cahalan is a medical specialist in general surgery, bariatric surgery, and bariatric medicine. Areas of particular interest for Dr. Cahalan include hernia surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and general surgery. He is professionally affiliated with UnityPoint Health. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine and a graduate of Iowa Methodist Medical Center's residency program. He welcomes new patients at his office inWest Des Moines, IA as reported by UnityPoint Health.