SUPERIOR SURGICAL CARE

Dr. Yin Luk and the surgical staff at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages ® Regional Hospital work together to deliver quality patient treatment.

Hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world. According to Yin “Tammy” Luk, MD, FACS, a board-certified general surgeon with Central Florida Health—the parent company for Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital—she performs these surgeries several times a week.

A hernia is a condition that is fairly common, especially in people who engage in strenuous activities that involve heavy straining for work or exercise. Other risk factors include medical conditions such as obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, immune suppression, or chronic constipation. “A hernia usually occurs at the belly button or groin area,” says Dr. Luk. “It can also happen in an area where a person has had prior surgery. If there is a weak spot or opening in the abdominal wall, a fatty tissue or organ, which is commonly the bowel, can protrude through this defect. If a patient notices that she/he has a bulge in any of these areas, along with pain and swelling, the best thing to do is to have it evaluated immediately.”

Using the latest state-of-theart equipment, hernia repairs at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital are performed using minimally invasive techniques. This approach generally provides less pain and a faster recovery time for the patient. “With the laparoscopic method, we use a high-definition, fiber-optic camera to visualize the operative field,” says Dr. Luk. “From there, we use gas inflation to gain a wide view of the defect and surrounding structures. Afterwards, the content of the hernia is reduced back into its intra-abdominal location. Finally, we use a mesh to cover/repair the defect.”

Using this surgical technique, Dr. Luk explains that patients are generally able to go home the same day as their surgery. They also experience less pain, swelling, and scarring when compared to the traditional, more invasive, open surgeries that are performed on hernias.

“For the groin hernia especially, we work purely within the layers of the abdominal wall, without having to enter into the abdominal cavity. The recovery is much quicker with little to no discomfort,” Dr. Luk explains. As a general surgeon, Dr. Luk also performs a variety of procedures, which include surgeries on the gallbladder, breast, stomach, bowel, and wound, to name a few. Dr. Luk has nothing but high praises for the surgical support staff of Central Florida Health.

“It is a team approach; from the nursing staff to the technical support/equipment. We are able to give patients the best possible outcomes,” she says. “I often receive positive feedback from my patients about how the hospital staff treated them before and after their procedure. The team members are good at describing to the patients and family what to expect during and after their surgeries. Also they help in reminding the patients of the appropriate aftercare at home to ensure a good recovery. This relieves the anxiety a patient may experience before their procedure. It is a stressful time, especially for someone who may not have family support close by. Most importantly, Central Florida Health has an excellent surgical team (scrub tech, nurse, and technical/equipment support) that assists me in providing safe and high quality care during surgery to ensure the best outcome for my patients.”

After graduating from The Ohio State University with her medical degree in May 2003, Dr. Luk went on to complete her general surgery residency at the world-renowned University of Louisville in June 2008. Desiring to move to a warmer, snow-free climate, Dr. Luk relocated to Lake County. She has practiced at both Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital for close to a decade. When asked what she loves most about her job, Dr. Luk is quick to say that she enjoys problem-solving and fresh challenges.

“As a surgeon, I enjoy having the ability to see a problem and fix it,” she says. “Many of the cases that I perform are life-saving and it is very rewarding to see the immediate and positive result. That is why I love what I do.”

For More Information

YIN (TAMMY) LUK, MD, FACS General Surgeon

601 E. Dixie Ave., Suite 801 Leesburg, FL 34748

1400 US Hwy 441 N. Sharon Morse Bldg, Suite 526 The Villages, FL 32159

352.323.1405