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Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA

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Specializes in: Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery and Bariatric Medicine

University of Minnesota Medical School (1992)

Professional interests include: gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-y gastric bypass, and more.

920 E. 28th Street Suite 460
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(763) 236-0940

Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA is a bariatric surgeon in Minneapolis, MN specializing in bariatric surgery, general surgery and bariatric medicine. He graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School in 1992 and has 33 years of experience. Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA is affiliated with Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health and United Hospital.

Office Locations

Address:

11035 Boone Circle
Minneapolis, MN 55438

Address:

280 Smith Avenue N Doctors Professional Building, Suite 700
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Address:

920 E. 28th Street Suite 460
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Some issues Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA can help you with:

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that promotes weight loss by reducing the stomach and altering how the digestive system absorbs and processes food. The procedure treats morbid obesity, where one's weight impairs day-to-day function or poses serious health risks. Gastric bypass surgery is used only after other weight loss treatments are unsuccessful.

Generally, gastric bypass surgery is performed on patients who have a BMI of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 or greater with a weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes. Bariatric surgeons frequently expect patients to first attempt natural weight loss for about six months to prove to the surgeon that the patient is capable of maintaining a post-surgery diet and exercise regimen.

For obese patients, gastric bypass surgery has many potential health and weight benefits. Gastric bypass surgery restricts the amount of food the stomach contains, as well as:

Reduces the calories the stomach absorbs
Alters gastrointestinal hormones, which help to heal obesity-induced metabolic syndrome
Suppresses appetite
Alleviates conditions caused or exacerbated by obesity, such as obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes
Contributes to mental health by improving self-esteem

During gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is stapled to reduce its size, and a small hole is created in the stomach and attached to the middle section of the small intestine. This direct connection between the stomach and the middle of the small intestine creates a channel for some food to bypass the normal route. By bypassing the upper small intestine and larger region of the stomach, food is not fully absorbed and patients do not retain the same amount of calories as before. This procedure is also sometimes referred to as "Roux-en-Y" gastric bypass surgery. Some bariatric surgeons may perform a "laparoscopic bypass" which uses a tiny camera (laparoscope) to guide the procedure.

Gastric bypass surgery is performed with general anesthesia and as preparation, a liquid diet is required for two weeks prior to undergoing the surgery. After the surgery, patients will spend about two days in the hospital and may miss work for two to three weeks. In the first month after the surgery, patients are only able to consume small portions of liquid or soft food. Even after reintroducing solid food, patients feel full quickly, sometimes after eating just two or three tablespoons. Some patients experience "dumping syndrome" (rapid processing of food into the small intestine), which is common during the recovery process. Gastric bypass surgery patients must also make permanent lifestyle changes. For example, gastric bypass patients are required to take vitamins for life after surgery and required to forever avoid certain foods, such as alcohol, sugar, and high fat food.

While the gastric bypass recovery process can be challenging, surgery results are usually swift: most gastric bypass surgery patients lose nearly half to two thirds of their starting weight within two years of surgery.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, using a tiny opening to get inside the body instead of making a large cut. It uses small tools attached to a thin robotic arm, which is controlled by the surgeon. Robotic surgery may be referred to by the specific kind of robot that is used. The most advanced robot currently in use is called the da Vinci, and surgery using it is sometimes called da Vinci surgery.

There are many benefits to robotic surgery, both for the patient and the surgeon. Robotic surgery allows for more precise movements and increased control during very delicate surgical procedures. This makes performing surgery accurately much easier for surgeons and reduces fatigue. The smaller 'hand' of the robot can enter the body via a much smaller opening, which reduces the risk of infection and scarring and leads to a faster recovery. The robotic hands also contain tiny moveable cameras among their tools, giving surgeons a much closer view of the procedure than would be possible with traditional 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.

In The News

“The Rev. Charles Svendsen is a church doctor.”—"The spirit keeps moving them", Los Angeles Times, January 2007

doctor visit	25
hospital care	13
inpatient care	13

**Gender**
Male	47
Female	38

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

**Age**
From 65 to 74	32
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	24

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	14

**Gender**
Male	37
Female	46

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	24
85 and over	11
Less than 65	23

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

**Gender**
Male	26
Female	88

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

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	78

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	63
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	39
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	36

**Gender**
Male	17
Female	46

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	45
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	14
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	49

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	75
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	43
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	38
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	18

**Age**
From 65 to 74	11
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	75
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	30
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	50
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	37

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	41

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	31
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	67
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	26
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	47
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	55

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	60
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	50

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	31
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	75
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	5

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	28

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	37
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	67
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	41
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA treated as a bariatric surgeon in Minneapolis, MN were hospital care, inpatient care, bypass surgery and minimally invasive procedures.

bypass surgery	11
doctor visit	34
gastrointestinal procedures	11
hospital care	13
inpatient care	13
minimally invasive procedures	11
weight management	11

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Female	21
Male	12

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	25
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	1
75 to 84	2
Less than 65	32
65 to 74	8

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA treated were hypertension, depression, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	14
Depression	49
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	19
Osteoporosis	2
Heart Failure	7
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	1
Diabetes	28
Atrial Fibrillation	1
Cancer	0
Dementia	0

Education & Training

Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School in 1992. He completed residency at University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Board Certification: Obesity medicine and has a state license in Minnesota.

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School (1992)

Residency: University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Board Certification: Obesity medicine

Licensed In: Minnesota

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Allina Health

United Hospital

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$94,873 Da Vinci Surgical System $80,873	DAVINCI XI $7,000	DA VINCI SP $7,000
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.	$2,793 SEAMGUARD Bioabsorbable Staple Line Reinforcement $881	BIO-A Tissue Reinforcement $656	DUALMESH Biomaterial $552	SEAMGUARD Bioabsorbable Staple $504	BIO A Tissue Reinforcement $110	Other $90
Covidien LP	$223 Endo Stapling $205	iDrive Ultra $18
Stryker Corporation	$147 New Product Development $147
Becton, Dickinson and Company	$137 $137
Other	$332 Synthetic Mesh $121	Endoscopy: Endocutters $91	PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS $82	Laparoscopic Instruments $24	Endo Stapling $14

**Types of Payments**
Education	$66,800
Travel and Lodging	$12,138
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$11,500
Food and Beverage	$8,039
Gift	$30

Biography

Dr. Charles Svendsen, who practices in Minneapolis, MN and Saint Paul, MN, is a medical specialist in general surgery, bariatric surgery, and bariatric medicine. He is especially interested in sleeve gastrectomy, roux-en-y gastric bypass, and robotic surgery. He is professionally affiliated with United Hospital and Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Dr. Svendsen is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. His medical residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Dr. Svendsen's average patient rating is 5.0 stars (out of 5).

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Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA can help you with:

In The News

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Charles Svendsen, MD, MBA From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Biography

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Other Providers in Minneapolis, MN