Press Releases

SALINAS, Calif. - June 23, 2009 - Natividad Medical Center has recently expanded its surgical team and laparoscopic surgery services. The newest laparoscopic surgery now available at the hospital is "lap band surgery" or adjustable gastric banding, a weight loss procedure available to obese patients. The hospital also features the first surgeons in Monterey County who specialize in laparoscopic kidney removal, as well as the only fellowship-trained colon and rectal surgeon practicing in the County.

Laparoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, allows surgeons to perform the same procedures as in traditional open surgery, using small incisions of up to half an inch, instead of large abdominal incisions. The instruments and a tiny video camera are then inserted through these incisions, allowing the surgeon to perform the procedure using the image of the organs transmitted onto a television monitor.

Patients who receive this type of laparoscopic surgery generally recover more quickly, returning to work and normal physical activities in a shorter amount of time. Benefits often include reduced post operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and smaller scars. In addition to laparoscopic lap band surgery, colon and kidney surgery, Natividad Medical Center also offers laparoscopic surgery for most gynecological problems and hysterectomies, spleen removal, treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease, treatment for achalasia, hiatal hernia repair, inguinal hernia repair, gall bladder removal, and appendix removal.

Natividad Medical Center is a 172-bed acute care medical center owned and operated by Monterey County, and has been providing healthcare for more than 120 years. A public community hospital, Natividad Medical Center emphasizes the care of women, children and families and offers comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic and specialty care through its medical staff of more than 235 physicians. The hospital is affiliated with the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine.

For more information about the Natividad Medical Center please call 831-755-4111 or visit www.natividad.com.

### About Natividad Medical Center
Natividad Medical Center is a 172-bed acute care medical center owned and operated by Monterey County, and has been providing healthcare for more than 120 years. A public community hospital, Natividad Medical Center emphasizes the care of women, children and families and offers comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic and specialty care. With a medical staff of more than 235 physicians, Natividad's mission is to continually improve the health status of the people of Monterey County through access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services. Natividad is based in Salinas, California. For more information, please call 831-755-4111 or visit www.natividad.com.