Monday - Friday ( 9AM - 5PM )
My name is Dr. Jennifer Etling. I am with Benrus Surgical Associates at Barnes Jewish Saint Peter's Hospital and Progress West Hospital.
WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALITY AND WHO DO YOU SEE?
I am a board certified general surgeon and I see patients with a variety of surgical problems including hernias, gallbladder issues, various kinds of cancer and skin conditions.
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Dear Patients:
We are excited to announce da Vinci robot surgery is available at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. This is the first da Vinci robot in St. Charles County. Together, we have performed over 50 procedures over the past six months. Although we have been performing laparoscopic surgery for over two decades, this newest minimally invasive approach has added additional benefits for our patients.
During a da Vinci procedure, the surgeon is 100% in control of the system, which offers high definition 3D views and our patients experience less pain. Less pain translates into less narcotic use and faster recovery. Types of patients we offer da Vinci surgery include:
Colorectal Disease
Appendicitis is a common disorder. It involves infection and inflammation of the appendix,
which is a tube shape extension of the first part of the colon, the cecum.
The treatment of appendicitis is done by the removal of the diseased appendix from the body. If
the issue is not identified at the right time, it can lead to several serious complications like
perforation of the appendix itself, and more severe infections.
Thanks to the many advances in skin cancer surgeries, the five-year survival rate for people who detect melanoma early is close to 98 percent. However, since not all skin cancers are the same, the type of treatment that is needed differs from person to person. It’s important that you immediately seek consultation and visit a medical professional as soon as you notice any signs of the disease. The highly skilled team at Benrus Surgical has years of experience in general surgery and specializes in treating all skin cancers including melanoma. Come visit us and we can work with you to find the best treatment to beat this disease. Some of the treatments offered include:
Excision – Local anesthesia is usually used for this procedure, which consists of a surgeon using a razor or scalpel to shave or cut the growth off. The three main types of excision are:
Shave Biopsy – A razor-like tool is used to peel or shave off the growth from the skin.
Simple Excision – A scalpel is used cut off the growth and skin that surrounds it.
Wide Excision – This procedure is used when a wider perimeter of skin needs to be cut
Finding a lump in your breast can be a scary experience. However, studies show that over half of all women will develop lumps in one or both breasts. This condition is known as fibrocystic breast disease, also known as fibrocystic breast condition and fibrocystic changes. It is most commonly found in women between 30 and 50 years old, and is not malignant (non-cancerous). Symptoms can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but there are many treatments that can help with these side-effects. The problem with diagnosing fibrocystic disease is that symptoms can vary from person to person and may require a biopsy to make sure it is not breast cancer.
What Causes Fibrocystic Disease?
Hormones produced by the ovaries can fluctuate greatly during your menstrual cycle, which leads to discomfort, increased sensitivity, and lumpy breast tissue that feel swollen and sore. Symptoms of fibrocystic disease tends to increase before you start your menstrual cycle and decreases after your period begins. You can also experience symptoms throughout the month as well. The lumps are caused by swollen breast lobules and cysts.
Symptoms of Fibrocystic Disease
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of this condition:
Research has shown that early treatment can greatly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates for colon cancer and colon disease. Yet, many Americans suffer from these diseases and never get treatment because they either don't understand its symptoms, or because they are embarrassed to see a doctor. That's why it's important to find a specialist who is experienced and knows how to deal with personal and sensitive matters such as this. The Colorectal Surgery team at Benrus Surgery Center St. Charles has been providing the community with excellent health care for over 50 years and continues to stay on the forefront of treating cancer and other diseases of the rectum, colon, and anus.
When tissues bulge through a weak opening in your abdomen, that’s referred to as a ventral hernia. Any point on your abdominal wall can be a candidate for this to happen.
You are at risk of a hernia any time you lift a heavy object, but increased risk comes from pregnancy, obesity, prior hernias, abdominal surgeries, bowel injuries, and a family hernia history. Many people are also born with a congenital defect that will cause the abdominal wall to be thin from birth.
Symptoms of a ventral hernia can take time to occur and may in fact never show. Symptoms that do present include mild abdominal discomfort, full-on abdominal pain, skin and tissue bulging outward in the abdominal area, vomiting and nausea.
These may increase when standing or lifting heavy objects and you may see a bulging growth in the abdomen that feels painful to touch.
