Gastroenterology

Located beneath the liver, the gallbladder is a little sac that stores bile from the liver and releases it to help break down the foods you eat.

If gallbladder removal is necessary, our surgeons operate through a few small incisions to remove the gallbladder. This is a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Gallbladder conditions we treat

The GI specialists at our hospital treat an array of gallbladder conditions, including:

• Gallstones (cholelithiasis)
• Biliary colic or biliary pain
• Common bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis)
• Gallbladder cancer

Symptoms of a gallbladder condition

Indications that you could have a gallbladder condition requiring medical attention include:

• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Sweating
• Chills
• Gas
• Reflux and vomiting
• Low-grade fever
• Yellowish color of the skin or whites of eyes
• Clay-colored stools

Colorectal cancer, also commonly called colon cancer, develops in the colon or the rectum. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. Yet colon cancer is highly treatable and, with early detection and treatment, can result in much higher survival rates.

Our cancer specialists provide regular colon cancer screenings. They will help you take appropriate measures to change risk factors within your control.

Colon cancer screening

The most common colorectal cancer screening method is a colonoscopy. It involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into the rectum. During this procedure, your doctor uses a tiny camera to view the inside of the colon.

The purpose of these tests is to find and treat cancer early. With rates of colon and rectal cancers on the rise in younger adults, the American Cancer Society now recommends adults age 45 years and older begin regular colon cancer screenings. Talk with your doctor to find the right test for you.

The experienced colon and rectal surgeons at our hospital provide a full range of surgical services to treat colorectal disorders. This includes colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery

The Joint Commission certified our hospital as one of six U.S. centers for minimally invasive colorectal surgery and recognized us as a disease-specific Colorectal Center of Excellence. Minimally invasive surgical procedures are performed through smaller incisions than traditional surgery. This can offer a range of benefits, including:

• Less pain and scarring
• Lower risk of complication
• Shorter hospital stays
• Shorter recovery times

As part of our physical therapy and rehabilitation department, our pelvic floor program specializes in the treatment of various conditions affecting the colon and rectum. These issues include constipation and fecal incontinence.