Gallbladder Surgery Specialist
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Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery
Aliu O. Sanni, MD, FACS
Bariatric & General Surgery & GERD/Reflux Specialist located in Snellville, GA
When your gallbladder produces gallstones that get stuck in narrow ducts or cause inflammation, the pain can be excruciating. Aliu Sanni, MD, FACS, and the team at Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery perform robotic gallbladder surgery to minimize trauma and bleeding. If you live in Snellville, Georgia, or the surrounding communities and want relief from gallstones, call the office today or schedule an appointment online for a consultation.
Gallbladder Surgery Q&A
What are gallstones?
Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ in your abdomen on your right side, under your liver. The gallbladder stores a digestive fluid called bile, but sometimes this fluid can harden into deposits ranging in size from a grain of rice to a golf ball.
People who experience gallstone symptoms usually need a surgery called a cholecystectomy to remove them. Many people have gallstones that are too small to cause any symptoms, and therefore never need treatment.
Who is most at risk of gallstones?
Certain people are more likely to get gallstones, including:
- Women
- People over 40
- Native Americans
- Mexican-Americans
- Overweight and obese people
- Pregnant women
- People with a high fat or high cholesterol diet
- People with a family history of gallstones
- People with diabetes
- People taking estrogen, oral contraceptives or hormone therapy drugs
- People with liver disease
If you meet one or more of these criteria, be especially aware of the symptoms of gallstones.
How do I know if I need gallbladder surgery?
Contact Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery if you notice symptoms of gallbladder disease, such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sudden abdominal pain that quickly gets worse
- Pain between your shoulder blades
- Right shoulder pain
Symptoms that require immediate medical attention at Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery include:
- High fever and chills
- Intense abdominal pain
- Yellowed, jaundiced skin
- Yellowing of the whites of your eyes
Treating gallstones as quickly as possible reduces the risk for complications like infection and pancreatitis.
What happens during gallbladder surgery?
The team at Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery can oftentimes remove the gallbladder through a single incision near the belly button using the da Vinci robotic surgery system.
They are experts at removing the gallbladder with minimally invasive laparoscopic or traditional open surgery, when necessary.
If you have gallstones or abdominal pain, contact Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery about gallbladder surgery by phoning the office or scheduling an appointment online.
