Surgical Services

Why St. Joseph Hospital

We provide a wide scope of surgical services, including inpatient, outpatient, day surgery and minimally invasive procedures. Our highly skilled, caring staff of physicians, anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and technicians is dedicated to providing the highest quality patient care. As a leader in surgical services we are committed to remaining on the cutting edge of technology and providing superior, innovative surgery and recovery services. At St. Joseph Hospital, we provide a full range of surgical technology and services, including the da Vinci® Surgical System.

After your surgery, you will receive postoperative discharge instructions to aid in your recovery, as well as information about your rights as a patient under New Hampshire law to make decisions about your healthcare.

St. Joseph Hospital is supported by a team of surgeons who cover a wide range of specialties, including:

  • Endoscopy
  • General Surgery
  • Gynecological, Gynecological Oncology
  • Pudendal Neuralgia/Chronic Pelvic Pain
  • Orthopedic, Spine
  • Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, Total Joint Replacement
  • Podiatry
  • Total Joint Replacement
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Urology
  • Vascular Surgery

State-of-the-Art Surgical Care

The surgical services renovation project was completed in late 2011. The project included nine new, state-of-the-art surgical suites, as well as fully renovated pre-operative and recovery rooms designed with your utmost privacy in mind. Our redesigned waiting room offers your family and loved ones a comfortable area while waiting for your procedure to be completed.

This project integrated the newest, state-of-the-art technology with increased comfort and privacy for patients and families. The completion of this major project enhanced our ability to continue to deliver to most advanced surgical services in the Southern New Hampshire area.

Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement Using the Anterior Approach

St. Joseph Hospital offers the anterior approach for hip replacement surgery. The anterior approach can result in less scarring, shorter recovery time, and fewer restrictions post-surgery than the traditional approach. The procedure uses a specifically designed hip positioning table called the hana® table. This provides patients with the ability to get back to their lives faster and are excited to have this choice in the convenience of their community.

The anterior approach for total hip replacement is a tissue sparing alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery that provides the potential for less pain, faster recovery, and improved mobility because the muscle tissues are spared during the surgical procedure. The technique allows for the surgeon to work between the muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thigh bones, helping to spare the tissue from trauma.

Keeping the muscles intact may also help to prevent dislocations. With the anterior approach, the surgeon uses one small incision on the front of the hip as opposed to the side or back. Since the incision is in front, patients can avoid the pain of sitting on the incision site.

The anterior approach procedure for total hip replacement has been gaining popularity recently due to its potential benefits including possible accelerated recovery time, fewer restrictions during recovery, potential for the implant to be more stable and possible reduced scarring. The anterior approach can help larger, heavier patients to become candidates for minimally invasive hip surgery. The anterior approach enters the body closer to the hip joint, with far less tissue between the skin and the bones of the hip, so more patients may be candidates.

If you are thinking about a total hip replacement, please contact your St. Joseph Hospital Primary Care Provider to discuss your options.

Robotic Surgery is Changing the Surgical Experience

In keeping with our tradition of bringing the most advanced technology to the region, St. Joseph Hospital is the first in Nashua to use the innovative da Vinci® Surgical System, a breakthrough approach to surgery.

The da Vinci® Si is the most state-of-the-art, cutting edge robotic surgical system available. It is the only da Vinci® robot which offers a completely integrated platform, making it the most enabling technology ever offered in robotic surgery. Enhanced 3D HD visualization with 10x magnification offers surgeons an immersive view of the operative field superior to any other surgical approach, including traditional open surgery and laparoscopy. The da Vinci® Si System is designed to keep hospitals and surgeons at the forefront of minimally invasive surgery, allowing seamless integration with our current operating room and the expandability to accommodate future technologies. This is the platform on which all future da Vinci® technologies will be developed.

Mako SmartRobotics™ is an innovative solution for many suffering from painful arthritis of the knee. Mako uses 3D CT-based planning software so your surgeon can know more about your anatomy to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan. For more information on the Mako SmartRobotics™ System, click here.

Pudendal Neuralgia/Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pudendal neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome involving the genital region in both men and women. The pudendal nerve provides both motor and sensory fibers to the genital area from the anal and perirectal area up to the penis or clitoris. Symptoms include pain, especially burning, in the genital area. The symptoms decrease when sitting on a toilet seat. Patients note a change in skin sensitivity both increased and decreased. Pain with arousal, orgasm/ejaculation and erectile dysfunction is common. Urinary incontinence, urgency or frequency, as well as pain with bowel movement and constipation can occur. Women experience pain, often severe, with attempted intercourse. The condition is often disabling and prevents many normal activities.

A variety of factors can lead to the cause of pudendal neuralgia. The two most common being nerve entrapment or compression, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and connective tissue abnormalities.

A large variety of triggers have been noted for nerve entrapment and most patients have an anatomical predisposition for this condition. Nerve entrapment can be exacerbated by trauma, surgery, exercise, cycling, squatting, injury to tailbone or chronic constipation. Nerve sensitization can be triggered by trauma, chronic skin irritations and other factors.

  • Medical Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Nerve Blocks
  • Subcutaneous Infiltrations
  • Trigger Point Treatment
  • Lifestyle Modifications

It is crucial to know that surgical interventions are usually not enough. Patients will greatly benefit from continued physical therapy and medical management after surgery.

Meet our Team of Specialists

We are a collection of health care professionals dedicated to the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of pudendal neuralgia and other related chronic pelvic pain issues.

Mark Conway, MD

St. Joseph Hospital OB/GYN & Midwifery

Athena Drosos, PA-C, CWS

St. Joseph Hospital Surgical & Vascular Services

Paul Stetsyuk, DO

St. Joseph Hospital Surgical & Vascular Services

Laurence P. Young, MD, FACS

St. Joseph Hospital Surgical & Vascular Services

603-882-3000