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Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS

(275 Ratings)

Specializes in: Bariatric Surgery and General Surgery

University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (1992)

Professional interests include: laparoscopic surgery, colorectal surgery procedures, gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders), and more.

2121 E. Harmony Road Building A-1, Suite 250
Fort Collins, CO 80528

(970) 482-6456

Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS is a bariatric surgeon in Fort Collins, CO specializing in bariatric surgery and general surgery. He graduated from University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine in 1992 and has 33 years of experience. Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS is affiliated with UCHealth, UCHealth Surgical Clinic - Northern Colorado and POUDRE VALLEY MEDICAL GROUP LLC.

Office Locations

Address:

2121 E. Harmony Road Building A-1, Suite 250
Fort Collins, CO 80528

Some issues Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS can help you with:

Gastrointestinal Problems (Digestive Disorders)

The gastrointestinal system, or GI tract, is the name given to a collection of organs that work together to digest food. These organs fit together in a long tube, running from the mouth to the anus, and include the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, among others. With so many parts working together, complicated by today's busy lifestyles and diets, digestive problems are common. As many as 1 in 3 Americans have a digestive or GI disorder. There are a huge variety of digestive problems, but the most common are IBS, constipation, GERD, hemorrhoids, and ulcers.

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, happens when the muscles surrounding the colon contract too easily or frequently. The result is abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea or constipation, gas and bloating. IBS attacks can often be brought on by specific triggers, so a key part of treatment is learning which foods trigger IBS attacks and avoiding them. Treatment also includes exercise, avoiding stress, and medications if needed.

Constipation, or large, hard, or infrequent stools, happens to everyone at some point. It can be caused by a disruption in routine or food, or by eating a diet without many fresh fruits and vegetables. Although it is uncomfortable, constipation is common and usually not serious, but it can sometimes become chronic. Adding fiber to the diet, exercising, and taking medications may help.

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a severe form of chronic heartburn where stomach acid spills back up into the esophagus. Left untreated, the acid may even eat away at the esophagus and cause serious damage. Treatment includes changing the diet to avoid trigger foods, losing weight if needed, medications, or even surgery.

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels around the rectum that become irritated, swollen or torn while straining during a bowel movement. They are most often caused by constipation, but can also be caused by pregnancy, diarrhea, or simply a genetic predisposition towards hemorrhoids. Treatment involves first treating any constipation issues, then keeping the area clean and soothed until it has healed. If these measures are ineffective, surgery is sometimes used.

Peptic ulcers are sores or spots of inflammation in the lining of the stomach or close to the stomach in the small intestine. Usually this area is coated with a protective lining that shields the tissue from the strong stomach acid, but a break in the lining can let acid in, causing the sores. It used to be thought that stress caused ulcers, but now it is known that is not the case. Most often, they are caused by an infection by H. pylori bacteria, but ulcers can also be caused by alcohol abuse or overuse of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAIDS. The symptoms of an ulcer are pain, hunger, nausea, and fatigue.

Gastrointestinal problems, perhaps more than any other area, are markedly affected by lifestyle. Many disorders can be prevented or treated at least in part by eating a healthy diet high in fiber, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, and limiting alcohol intake. Still, the frequency of digestive disorders means that even the healthiest person can be affected by them. Anyone who notices blood in their stool, experiences abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or any significant change in bowel movements should see a doctor.

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.

**Gender**
Male	70
Female	118

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	165
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	85
From 75 to 84	36
85 and over	11
Less than 65	56

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	23

bypass surgery	10
doctor visit	195
gastrointestinal procedures	9
minimally invasive procedures	9
weight management	10

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	149
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	78
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	48

Hypertension	52
High Cholesterol	39
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	35
Dementia	0
Cancer	22

catheterization	10
doctor visit	207

**Gender**
Male	122
Female	216

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	306
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	160
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	88

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	18
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	23

doctor visit	165

**Gender**
Male	53
Female	95

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	132
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	41

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	11
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	20

doctor visit	155

**Gender**
Male	58
Female	85

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	132
Black	0
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	21
85 and over	11
Less than 65	40

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	29
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	22

abdominal surgery	14
diagnostic procedures	12
doctor visit	167
excision	11
gastrointestinal procedures	13
lymph node procedures	12
minimally invasive procedures	13
open surgery	12

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	125
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	36

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	38
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	31
Dementia	0
Cancer	23

doctor visit	175

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	95

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	125
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	75
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	37

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	23
Dementia	0
Cancer	27

abdominal surgery	10
doctor visit	105
gastrointestinal procedures	9
minimally invasive procedures	9

**Gender**
Male	67
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	114
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

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

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	39
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	27
Dementia	0
Cancer	21

abdominal surgery	24
breast procedures	12
cancer surgery	12
doctor visit	262
excision	11
gastrointestinal procedures	23
minimally invasive procedures	23

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS treated as a bariatric surgeon in Fort Collins, CO were abdominal surgery, minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures and breast procedures.

abdominal surgery	15
breast procedures	12
bypass surgery	10
cancer surgery	12
catheterization	11
diagnostic procedures	12
doctor visit	185
excision	12
gastrointestinal procedures	14
lymph node procedures	12
minimally invasive procedures	14
open surgery	12
weight management	10

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS.

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	87

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	124
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	1
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	2
75 to 84	8
Less than 65	34
65 to 74	68

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS From 2013 - 2021

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

Hypertension	45
High Cholesterol	29
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	16
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	1
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Dementia	0
Cancer	18

Education & Training

Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS graduated from University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine in 1992. He completed residency at Madigan Army Medical Center. He has a state license in Colorado.

Medical School: University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (1992)

Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center (1997)

Licensed In: Colorado

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UCHealth

UCHealth Surgical Clinic - Northern Colorado

POUDRE VALLEY MEDICAL GROUP LLC

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 275 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Stefan M. Pettine, MD, FACS from all over the web to help you find the right in Fort Collins, CO.

4.9

Overall Rating

(275 Ratings)

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Pfizer Inc.	$100 ELIQUIS $66	ZYVOX $19	PREVNAR - 13 $15
Ethicon Inc.	$86 STRATAFIX $74	Endoscopy Trocars $12
Novo Nordisk Inc	$48 Wegovy $48
Davol Inc.	$37 SorbaFix Absorbable Fixation System $37
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$25 Da Vinci Surgical System $25
Other	$134 NASCOBAL CYANOCOBALAMIN, USP $25	OFIRMEV $23	SurgiMend $20	S-Series $15	BioSurgery - TISSEEL $14	Other $36

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$430

Biography

Dr. Stefan Pettine's medical specialty is general surgery and bariatric surgery. Dr. Pettine obtained his medical school training at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and performed his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center. Clinical interests for Dr. Pettine include colorectal surgery procedures, breast cancer surgery, and thyroid cancer. Patients rated him highly, giving him an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). He is professionally affiliated with UCHealth.