Gallbladder Removal in Knoxville, TN

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ under the liver. The gallbladder stores bile and helps your body break down and digest fats.

Gallbladder Disease

An estimated 20 million American have gallbladder disease. You are at a higher risk of gallbladder issues, such as gallstones, inflammation or infection, if you are obese, have a family history, and are over age 60. Eating food high in saturated fats and cholesterol can also lead to gallstones.

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease?

Because of the proximity of the gallbladder to your ribs, and the usage of the gallbladder in your digestive system, there can be a wide range of physical symptoms. However, because there is such a wide range, the diagnosis of your gallbladder disease cannot be determined without tests from your doctors.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Gas
Diarrhea
Pain under the rib cage on the right side or between the shoulder blades.
Bitter fluid coming up after eating
Indigestion

If you are experiencing any, or a combination of these symptoms, it’s important to contact a specialist to discuss next steps.

GALLBLADDER REMOVAL (CHOLECYSTECTOMY)

Surgical removal of the gallbladder is usually the recommended treatment when it becomes inflamed or infected, causes inflammation of the pancreas, the gallbladder wall has calcified, and when the gallbladder condition is causing ongoing pain.

Cholecystectomy is one of the safest, most common surgical procedures. It reduces the possibility of more gallstones developing in the future. Every year, it is estimated that over 700,000 Americans undergo this procedure. Approximately 90 percent of cholecystectomies in the United states are performed laparoscopically.

Image courtesy of Mayo Clinic

LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR

In this minimally invasive procedure, a few small incisions are made in your abdomen. The surgeon places a tiny laparoscope (a viewing tube with a camera) and small instruments through the incisions.

Most laparoscopic patients experience less pain and scarring and a quicker return to their normal activities.

A patient may not be a candidate for laparoscopic cholecystectomy if there is severe inflammation of the gallbladder, bile duct or abdominal lining, or scar tissue from previous abdominal surgeries. A open surgical approach that requires a larger incision may be used in these cases.

Your Premier Surgical physician will discuss your surgical treatment options with you and determine which method is best for you.

Cholecystectomy Patient Info

Premier Surgery Center

Premier Surgical physicans offer laparoscopic gallbladder removal at the Premier Surgery Center, conveniently located off I-40 on Papermill Drive in Knoxville. Click the Premier Surgery Center button for more information.

Premier Surgery CEnter

PREMIER FORT SANDERS SURGEONS

FORT SANDERS REGIONAL
1819 Clinch Avenue, Suite 200
Knoxville, TN 37916
865.524.3695

Michael Antiporda, MD, FACS

General Surgery
Fellowship: Advanced GI & Minimally Invasive Surgery

Gallbladder Removal in Knoxville, TN

Gallbladder Disease

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease?

GALLBLADDER REMOVAL (CHOLECYSTECTOMY)

LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR

Premier Surgery Center

PREMIER FORT SANDERS SURGEONS

Michael Antiporda, MD, FACS

Joseph B. Thurman, MD, FACS

Sung G. Lee, MD

Grey Leonard, MD

PREMIER NORTH KNOXVILLE SURGEONS

David J. Harrell, MD, FACS

David G. Schutter, MD, FACS

Ronald B. Weast, MD, FACS

PREMIER PARKWEST SURGEONS

Willard B. Campbell, MD, FACS

Norma M. Edwards, MD, FACS

William C. Gibson, MD, FACS

Michael E. Kelly, MD, FACS

Shannon P. Beierle, MD

K. Robert Williams, Jr., MD, FACS, FASMBS

Schilling Nechtman, MD

PREMIER TURKEY CREEK SURGEON

J. Randolph Reisser, MD, FACS

PREMIER CLEVELAND SURGEONS

Jason L. Dunn, MD, FACS

Eston K. Wenger, MD, FACS

Joshua A. Worthington, MD

John Boxberger, MD

PREMIER LAWSON GROUP SURGEONS

Kenneth E. Cutshall, MD, FACS

John (Trey) F. Robertson, III, MD, FACS

Michael Cutshall, MD