Who are Bristol Laparoscopic Associates?

We are a multidisciplinary group that provide safe access to and information on currently available and emerging laparoscopic surgery.  BLA: 

• Promote patient safety and best clinical outcomes.
• Continually measure the quality and effectiveness of our surgery.
• Help assure that patients & GPs throught the UK are able to access appropriately trained surgeons.
• Provide education & training for established consultants and surgeons-in-training as well as up-to date information on training course availability   
• Identify and evaluate current and emerging minimal access and non invasive technologies in gastrointestinal and urological surgery.
• Provide a forum for ideas and the exchange of information.
• Foster support for and encourage clinical and basic science research.
• Work with industry to achieve these goals. 

What do we offer?

Bristol Laparoscopic Associates offer SAC approved fellowships for senior trainees/newly appointed consultants in colorectal, pelvic floor and urological disease. We support postgraduate education and offer consultant preceptorship through the DOH funded Lapco training programme and via the Brit. Assoc.Urological Surgeons.  We participate in industry sponsored training courses in Hamburg &  Elancourt.  Bristol is one of 11 DOH designated national training centers for established consultants in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
 
Bristol Laparoscopic Associates have over 16 years experience of advanced upper and lower gastrointestinal, urological laparoscopic surgery.  We have one of the UK's largest experiences in laparoscopic colon & rectal cancer surgery (Anterior resection - TME rectum), complicated diverticulitis, restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and corrective surgery for disorders of the pelvic floor (rectal and urogenital prolapse).  In 2009 we added Single Port Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS - LESS) to our portfolio and have the worlds largest experience of its use in segmental colorectal resection. 

We have an 9 year experience of the STARR procedure in managing patients with obstructed defecation, Solitary Rectal Ulcer, symptomatic rectal intussusception and 4th degree haemorrhoids.  We have been performing TEP inguinal hernia repair since 1994.  We also have a large experience of offering remedial laparoscopic hernia surgery to patients who have developed problems following open and laparoscopic surgery performed elswhere. 

Our Urological expertise centers around radical prostatectomy, cystectomy & partial nephrectomy.  We also undertake laparoscopic splenectomy, adrenalectomy, incisional hernia repair, fundoplication for GORD, Heller's Myotomy and through our association with Avon Obesity Service we now offer laparoscopic bariatric-weight loss or obesity surgery.

And for GPs and patients ?

Bristol Laparoscopic Associates was established in April 2006.  One of the reasons was to foster a friendly, high quality patient team approach to patients wishing to have their medical condition assessed and treated in the private sector.  We employ the latest proven technologies and techniques to optimise results, speed-up recovery and provide superior value for money to the patient, medical insurer and PCT.  We strive to continuously improve our performance. The pursuit of excellence remains at the heart of the project.

The advantages of a minimal access or laparoscopic approach include:

• Minimal pain
• Few complications e.g., pneumonia, wound infection
• No recorded case of MRSA & C. Difficile infection
• Avoids the dangesrs of blood transfusion and epidurals
• Short hospital stays (1-2 days)
• Quick recovery and an earlier return to everyday activities
• Superior cosmesis.
• More cost-effective

Bristol Laparoscopic Associates also allow:

• discussion about all treatment options & multidisciplinary guidance
• treatment by fully accredited and widely experienced NHS surgeons who are leaders in their fields in the UK and Europe.
• treatment by surgeons with audited (National Cancer Peer Reviewed) and both patient reported & peer reviewed outcome measures.
• knowledgeable and helpful secretarial and support staff
• resources to access an experienced UK NHS laparoscopic surgeon
• comprehensive information packages
• CHOICE!

If you type laparoscopic surgery and our area of expertise eg., bariatric, inguinal hernia, rectal prolapse etc into Google  Bristolsurgery.com comes top of the first page on the whole web. Why?  Bristol Laparoscopic Associates are highly sought after specialists. Our hit rate is >1000 hits/day with over 3000 pageviews.  Bristolsurgery.com makes an effort to provide the information patients and healthcare professionals really need.

Research & Education

Our portfolio includes the assessment of outcomes after advanced laparoscopic interventions & working with industry to develop new technologies eg SILS.  Research is carried out within all the Bristol Hospitals as well as – Bristol, West of England, Cambridge, Oxford and Pittsburgh Universities.

Interests include:

• Cancer (VEGF, CGH profiling)
• Lap. restorative surgery for Ulcerative Colitis 
• SILS - LESS (Single port Lap. Colorectal Surgery)
  Accelerated postoperative recovery
• Uro-Gynae-Proctology
• Mucosal prolapse, haemorrhoids, PPH and STARR
• Incissional hernia
• Quality of life & patient reported outcome measures
  PROMS

Bristolsurgery.com is recognised & endorsed by the Royal College of Surgeons of England as a valuable resource for continued postgraduate education.