Press

Recent Articles

November 20, 2012. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology.

A Search to Identify Genetic Risk Factors for Endometriosis

Click here to view the online abstract and article.

Rotman C.^1,2, Fischel, L.³, Cortez, G.^1,2, Greiss, H.³, Rana, N.^1,2,4, Rinehart, J.⁴, Coulam, C.^3,4: A Search to Identify Genetic Risk Factors for Endometriosis. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, November 2012.

Problem

To search for molecular markers of endometriosis the following polymorphisms: p53 codon 72 Pro (apoptosis), TNF alpha-308 (inflammation), VEGF-1164AA (angiogenesis), and SOD2 (oxidative stress) were investigated.

Method of study

Forty-two women—24 with surgically proven endometriosis and 18 with no endometriosis found at the time of laparoscopy–had buccal swabs taken for DNA analyses of 4 gene polymorphisms including p53codon72, TNF-308 G/A, VEGF-1154G/A, SOD Ala16Val DNA. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles of these polymorphisms were compared between women with and without endometriosis.

Results

No specific gene mutation differences for the four genes tested nor differences in the frequencies of heterozygous and homozygous mutations were found between patients with endometriosis and controls. In addition, no differences in allelic frequencies of the four genetic polymorphisms were observed between patients with endometriosis and control.

Conclusion

Endometriosis is not associated with gene mutations for p53codon72, TNF-308 G/A, VEGF-1154G/A, SOD Ala16Val.

Affiliations

¹ Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, Oak Brook, IL, USA;
² Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA;
³ Fertility and Cryogenic Laboratory, Downer Grove, IL, USA;
⁴ Reproductive Medicine Institute, Oakbrook, Evanston, IL, USA

December 29, 2010. El Imparcial Spanish newspaper. Chicago, Illinois.

Hospital Weiss nombra a Dr. Rotman nuevo Director de unidad de salud de mujeres

Click here to view PDF file of the full article.

July-September, 2009. Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. Miami, Florida.

Incidental Appendectomy During Endoscopic Surgery

Song, J.Y., Yordan, E.L., Rotman, C.A.: Incidental Appendectomy During Endoscopic Surgery. Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Vol. 13, Issue 3, Pages 376-383, July-September 2009

Click here to view PDF file of the full article.

Abstract:

Background and Objectives: The first laparoscopic appendectomy was performed over 25 years ago, and yet controversy still exists over the open method vs. the laparoscopic approach, and whether an incidental appendectomy is warranted. This study aimed to evaluate our experience in performing a laparoscopic incidental appendectomy and to address these issues.

Methods: A total of 772 laparoscopic appendectomies were performed and analyzed and statistically evaluated.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 30.8±7.0 years. Mean operating time for an incidental appendectomy was 12.3±4.5 minutes. Most common pathology result was adhesions, and the rarest was endometriosis. Of patients with confirmed appendicitis, 75.8% did not have an initial preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis. When warranted, 103 (13.3%) patients underwent a second-look laparoscopy: 75.5% had no adhesions, 23.5% had mild adhesions, 2% had moderate adhesions. Backward elimination logistic regression revealed that endometriosis (P=0.016), endometrioma (P=0.039), pelvic or abdominal adhesions (P=0.015) were associated with a reduced likelihood of encountering appendicitis on pathology examination. The complication rate was 0.13%. Anesthesia cost was lower for an incidental appendectomy compared with an urgent one.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic incidental appendectomy is safe and quick to perform. Due to the complex nature of confirming the diagnosis of pelvic and abdominal pain, this study supports the routine performance of an incidental appendectomy in the female patient.

Affiliations: 1: TLC Medical Group, SC, Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, Rush Medical College, St. Charles, Illinois, USA 2: Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, Rush Medical College, Downers Grove, Illinois USA

August 10, 2009. Daily Herald newspaper. Chicago, Illinois.

Fibroid removal could prevent unnecessary hysterectomies

Click here to view PDF file of Page 1 of article.
Click here to view PDF file of Page 2 of article.

May 17, 2009. La Raza Spanish newspaper. Chicago, Illinois.

Alternativa a histerectomía

Médico hispano de Chicago gana premio por video de cirugía avanzada

Click here to view PDF file of article.

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Press Releases

January 4, 2011

New Year Brings New Birth for Once-Sterile Chicago Mother

Weiss Memorial Hospital surgeon provides hope with laparoscopic tubal reversal.

CHICAGO – Jan. 4, 2011 – Jeanette Custodio thought she would never be able to have another child, but she’ll be spending 2011 as a new mom once again. Custodio delivered a healthy girl on Jan. 1, her first child with her husband, Ruben. Custodio underwent tubal ligation sterilization eight years ago; but last December, the then 30-year-old Chicago woman underwent a laparoscopic tubal reversal that gave her hope in getting pregnant again.

The surgery, which repairs and reconnects the fallopian tubes to restore fertility, was performed by Carlos Rotman, M.D., chief of gynecology and medical director of Women’s Health at Weiss Memorial Hospital and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Rush Medical College. Dr. Rotman, who specializes in advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, said Custodio was the ideal patient for this procedure. “She is early in her child-bearing years and had no serious health conditions,” he said, adding that there are many women who are excellent candidates for the surgery.

After Custodio and her then boyfriend had their third child, she got a tubal ligation, a surgical sterilization procedure that is 99.5 percent effective as birth control. But the nine-year relationship ended. Custodio eventually married, and she and her husband wanted to have a child of their own. Her situation is common; a new relationship with the desire to have children is cited as the number one reason a woman decides to have a tubal ligation reversal procedure.

“I couldn’t believe how quickly everything happened,” Custodio said. “I thought I couldn’t have children again, and then I saw Dr. Rotman. Within three months, I was pregnant.”

A recognized leader in his field, Dr. Rotman has created and advanced new techniques and instrumentation in the field of laparoscopic surgery. He is one of few doctors who routinely perform tubal reversal laparoscopically, for which he has one of the highest academically published success rates (pregnancy after reversal) in the world—a 79 percent pregnancy success rate in women aged 35 and under who undergo bilateral laparoscopic tubal reversal. The success rate with the traditional open technique is between 60 and 80 percent.

“Dr. Rotman made me feel comfortable from the start about the procedure and the chance of getting pregnant again,” Custodio said. Dr. Rotman typically advises his patients to wait three months after surgery before trying to get pregnant so the tubes can heal properly.

“Jeanette’s success with this procedure illustrates the possibilities for other women who have undergone tubal ligation,” said Dr. Rotman. “I am delighted to see her have results so quickly and have such a healthy pregnancy.”

An estimated 700,000 to one million women undergo tubal ligation sterilization each year in the United States; it’s the most common contraceptive method worldwide among married women (33 percent). Tubal ligation closes off a woman's fallopian tubes, muscular organs connecting the ovaries to the uterus. Surgeons cut, burn or block the fallopian tubes with rings, bands or clips, which prevents eggs and sperm from meeting each other for fertilization. Even though tubal ligation is considered a permanent form of contraception, approximately 10 percent of women have a change of heart and want to become pregnant again, and for many of these patients, this can be achieved through tubal reversal.

In the laparoscopic tubal reversal procedure, instead of a large abdominal opening, small, specially designed instruments are inserted through tiny incisions—the largest only one centimeter and two or three only half that size. The abdominal cavity is visualized using a laparoscope (a telescope attached to a camera), and the surgeon removes the blocked area of the fallopian tubes, reattaches the remaining portions and sutures the tubes together.

The minimally invasive procedure allows the woman to go home the same day. It also results in faster recovery, better healing, less pain, fewer complications and no large scars compared to traditional open surgery.

An alternative to tubal reversal is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although women undergoing IVF avoid risks associated with surgery (e.g., infection or adverse reaction to anesthesia), the biggest disadvantages of this procedure are the medications needed to stimulate the development of multiple eggs (which are not without possible complications), the many trips by the patient and her husband to the doctor’s office, and the high costs often not covered by the patient’s insurance.

“This time last year, I was uncertain I could conceive again,” Custodio said. “Now I sit here in amazement as I hold my beautiful new daughter, feeling extremely blessed.”
For more information on laparoscopic tubal reversal or Women’s Health at Weiss Memorial Hospital, visit www.weisshospital.com or call (773) 564-6025.

MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information:
Karyn Odway
Cushman/Amberg Communications, Inc.
312/263-2500
kodway@cushmanamberg.com

For more information about Weiss:
Catherine Gianaro
773-564-7285
cgianaro@weisshospital.com

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About Weiss Memorial Hospital
Weiss Memorial Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited, 339-bed community health care facility on Chicago’s North Side overlooking Lake Michigan. Meeting the needs of its patients through a full range of services, Weiss has more than 400 physicians, many of whom are affiliated with the University of Chicago Medical Center and University of Illinois Medical Center, and 43 medical specialties, which offer technologically advanced diagnostics and effective treatments in a convenient community setting. For more information about Weiss, go to www.WeissHospital.com.

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November 15, 2010

Weiss Memorial Hospital Appoints Carlos Rotman MD to Medical Director of Women's Health

CHICAGO (November 15, 2010) — Weiss Memorial Hospital has appointed Carlos Rotman, M.D., to the position of medical director of Women’s Health. Dr. Rotman, who is also chief of gynecology at Weiss, will lead a new program that specializes in laparoscopic surgery, gynecological oncology, urological gynecology and robotic surgery of the pelvis and abdomen.

Dr. Rotman is a board-certified gynecologic surgeon who specializes in advanced operative laparoscopy. As director of the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, he has created and advanced new techniques and instrumentation in the field of laparoscopic surgery. He performs minimally invasive surgeries to treat many gynecologic conditions, including uterine fibroids, endometriosis and hysterectomy. He is also one of few doctors who offer laparoscopic tubal reversal, for which he has one of the highest academically published success rates (pregnancy after reversal) in the world.

“Dr. Rotman is one of the finest surgeons in his field,” said Frank Molinaro, chief executive officer at Weiss. “His leadership at Weiss will provide our patients with innovative treatments, as well as compassionate medical care.”

The Women’s Health program at Weiss includes experts in complex gynecological and urological conditions: Edgardo Yordan, MD, a specialist in gynecologic oncology; Jonathan Song, MD, a specialist in robotic-assisted gynecological surgery; and Bruce Rosenzweig, a specialist in urological gynecology.

Last year, Dr. Rotman, Dr. Song, and Dr. Yordan were awarded First Prize by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for their video presentation, “Alternatives to Hysterectomy.” This is the latest in a long series of awards won by Dr. Rotman and his associates, including the Golden Laparoscope from the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

The Women’s Health office will be located on the sixth floor of Weiss Memorial Hospital, where patients have convenient access to primary care physicians, pain management, radiology and imaging, and oncologists.

“I look forward continuing my work with the medical team at Weiss to treat patients,” Dr. Rotman said. “These surgeries provide immense relief for patients, and the laparoscopic techniques provide shorter, less difficult recoveries.”
Dr. Rotman, a native of Argentina, earned his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires and continued training with his residency and internship at Cook County Hospital. In addition to his surgical practice, he serves as Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush Medical College.

MEDIA CONTACT:

For more information:
Karyn Odway
Cushman/Amberg Communications, Inc.
312/263-2500
kodway@cushmanamberg.com

For more information about Weiss:
Catherine Gianaro
773-564-7285
cgianaro@weisshospital.com

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May 5, 2009

Alternatives to Hysterectomy Video Honored

Prize awarded for advanced surgical technique that could prevent hundreds of thousands of hysterectomies each year.

Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) May 5, 2009 – A medical video demonstrating the minimally invasive technique of laparoscopic multiple myomectomy was awarded First Prize by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) at their 2009 Film Festival yesterday. ACOG presented the award to the Chicago-based surgeons who authored the video, Drs. Jonathan Song, Carlos Rotman, and Edgardo Yordan.

Of the 600,000 hysterectomies that take place each year in the United States, more than 200,000 could be avoided according to Dr. Rotman. “These hysterectomies are performed due to the presence of benign tumors known as fibroids. While small fibroids are commonly removed through traditional or laparoscopic surgery, removal of larger ones is more difficult and requires special expertise. Over the last 25 years, our team has developed new techniques and instruments that allow us to remove multiple large fibroids while preserving the uterus and often preserving fertility as well.”

Known as laparoscopic myomectomy, this minimally invasive surgical procedure avoids large scars and overnight hospitalization by utilizing small, specially-designed instruments inserted through tiny (¼-inch) incisions. The use of sophisticated digital video equipment allows clear visualization throughout the case.

The authors are members of the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, which introduced a key innovation known as the “SLAM” Technique. SLAM stands for Simplified Laparoscopic Abdominal Morcellation, and involves the use of a straight blade to cut large specimens safely into long strips, which are then quickly and easily removed.

The prize-winning video demonstrates the team’s technique in the case of a childless patient who had been told repeatedly at several institutions that hysterectomy was her only option. Refusing to give up on having children, she finally contacted Dr. Rotman and his associates, who found her to be a good candidate for conservative surgery. They removed several large fibroids – the largest measuring almost 9 inches – and successfully reconstructed her uterus. The patient later was able to give birth normally and is presently in her second pregnancy.

According to Dr. Song, “too many hysterectomies are being performed in the United States for benign diseases; the uterus does not need to be easily sacrificed for fibroids.”

Dr. Rotman concluded, “The purpose of this video presentation was to share our team’s techniques and philosophy with all other physicians, with the hope that these procedures become more widespread and patients everywhere will be given alternatives to hysterectomy.”

Patients interested in contacting the authors can call (800) 244-0212 for Drs. Rotman and Yordan, and (630) 513-9160 for Dr. Song. Drs. Rotman and Yordan are Associate Professors of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Rush Medical College, and Dr. Song is an Assistant Professor of Ob/Gyne there. All three are on staff at Chicago’s Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center; in addition, Dr. Song is on staff at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, Illinois.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jonathan Y. Song, MD, FACOG, FACS
A member of the medical staff at Delnor Community Hospital, Dr. Song’s practice is limited to Gynecology and Surgery. He is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ABOG) and certified in Advanced Operative Laparoscopy by the Accreditation Council for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ACGE). Dr. Song is an Assistant Professor at Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is also a faculty member for WebSurg and SurgeryU, on-line sites for Minimally Invasive Surgical Education for physicians. After graduating from Rush’s residency program, Dr. Song was awarded a fellowship position in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy under the direction of Dr. Carlos Rotman. Upon completion of his fellowship, Dr. Song entered private practice and works for TLC Medical Group, along with Drs. Gina Song and Joy Castrovillari in St. Charles, IL. Dr. Song continues his association with the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, and in his spare time continues to contribute to surgical textbook chapters, medical journals, and clinical meeting presentations.

Carlos A. Rotman, MD, FACOG, FACS
Founder and Director of the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, Dr. Rotman is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology by ABOG and certified in Advanced Operative Laparoscopy by ACGE. An Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Rush Medical College, Dr. Rotman’s interest in laparoscopy dates back to his gynecology residency days in the 1970s. In 1980, together with Dr. Harrith Hasson, he started to use laparoscopy as a safe and effective way to perform pelvic and abdominal surgery. The first project was to improve access to the peritoneal cavity with a minimum of possible complications, and the result was the Modified Technique of Open Laparoscopy, now in use all over the world. Recognized in 1994 with the Golden Laparoscope Award by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists for the technique of Laparoscopic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy, as well as with many other national and international awards, Dr. Rotman and his colleagues have enjoyed great recognition and respect for their pioneering and ongoing work, teaching, and research geared to improving the quality of life of patients worldwide.

Edgardo Yordan, MD, FACOG, FACS
Board-certified in both Obstetrics & Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology by ABOG, Dr. Yordan serves as Chairman of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Stroger (Cook County) Hospital, and is an Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn at Rush Medical College. Dr. Yordan was nationally ranked twice by Good Housekeeping Magazine as one of the “Best 400 Cancer Doctors in the USA” and as one of the “Best Doctors for Women,” and was named one of “Chicago’s Top Doctors” by Chicago Magazine. During his long association with Dr. Rotman and the Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy, for which he serves as Co-Director, Dr. Yordan has won the Golden Laparoscope Award and numerous national and international prizes.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alfonso del Granado
Oak Brook Institute of Endoscopy SC
773-771-9177
info@oakbrookendoscopy.com
http://www.OakBrookEndoscopy.com

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