Outstanding Surgical Care

A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. The gallbladder collects and stores bile — a digestive fluid produced in the liver.

A cholecystectomy may be necessary if you experience pain from gallstones that block the flow of bile. It is a common surgery and in most cases, the patient can go home the same day of the cholecystectomy.

It is most commonly performed by inserting a tiny video camera and special surgical tools through four small incisions to see inside the abdomen and remove the gallbladder. This is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In some cases, one large incision may be used to remove the gallbladder. This is called an open cholecystectomy.

Appendicitis is a sudden inflammation of the appendix. Although the appendix does not seem to serve any purpose, it can become diseased and, if left untreated, can burst, causing infection and even death.

The infected appendix then must be surgically removed before a hole develops in the appendix and the infection spreads to the abdominal space.

The laparoscopic (minimally invasive) technique involves making several tiny cuts in the abdomen and inserting a miniature camera and fine laparoscopic instruments. The surgeon then removes the appendix with the instruments. This technique avoids the need to make a large incision in the abdomen and thus reduces post-operative pain and speeds up the recovery process.

Although "heartburn" is often used to describe a variety of digestive problems, in medical terms, it is actually a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this condition, stomach acids reflux or "back up" from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn is described as a harsh, burning sensation in the area in between the ribs or just below the neck. The feeling may radiate through the chest and into the throat and neck.

Patients who do not respond well to lifestyle changes or medications or those who continually require medications to control their symptoms will have to undergo a surgical procedure called Laparoscopic Anti-Reflux Surgery which is very effective in treating GERD.

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas. Most hernias are not immediately life threatening, but they don’t go away on their own and can require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications.

Hernias can be repaired with either open or laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and miniaturized surgical equipment to repair the hernia using only a few small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery is less damaging to the surrounding tissue.