Vivek N. Prachand, MD

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Vivek N. Prachand, MD

Professor of Surgery Chief Quality Officer, Department of Surgery
Co-Director, Digestive Diseases Center

Vivek Prachand, MD, is an expert in minimally invasive abdominal surgery. He is skilled at the most advanced laparoscopic procedures, and performs more than 200 laparoscopic abdominal surgeries each year. One of his special interests is minimally invasive obesity surgery. In addition to performing the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures, he was the first surgeon in the Midwest to perform a totally laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Dr. Prachand is one of a handful of surgeons worldwide who regularly performs the laparoscopic duodenal switch for super-obese (body mass index greater than 50) and super-super-obese patients (body mass index greater than 60). He has performed this complex procedure in more than 300 patients.

Another area of Dr. Prachand's expertise is in the application of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas and small intestine. This includes procedures such as esophagectomy, total and subtotal gastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and partial small bowel and colon resections.

His other clinical interests include minimally invasive surgical treatment for disorders of the spleen (including massive splenomegaly), esophagus (hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, paraesophageal hernia, and achalasia), stomach (peptic ulcer disease, benign and malignant tumors), pancreas (pseudocysts, benign and malignant tumors), adrenal glands and abdominal wall hernias.

Dr. Prachand is an approved surgeon in the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery's Centers of Excellence program. He also serves as an instructor and proctor for advanced bariatric surgery training programs.

Areas of Expertise

  • Abdominal Hernia
  • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
  • Biliary and Gallbladder Surgery
  • Complex Abdominal Surgery
  • Complex Abdominal Wall Hernia & Reconstruction
  • Esophageal Diverticula
  • Esophageal Motility Disorders
  • Gallbladder & Biliary System Surgery
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
  • Hiatal Hernia
  • Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery
  • LGBTQ Health

Board Certifications

  • Surgery

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
  • American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
  • Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
  • Illinois Association of Bariatric Surgeons
  • Society for Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
  • American College of Surgeons

Practicing Since

  • 2001

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Marathi

Medical Education

  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Residency

  • Barnes Jewish Hospital

Fellowship

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital; Glasgow Royal Infirmary

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

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Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

What are the results of a minimally invasive weight loss surgery, and do they stay off? Can bariatric surgery reduce the effects of diabetes? Mustafa Hussain, MD, and Vivek Prachand, MD, talk about minimally invasive surgery for weight loss.

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