Chicago Bariatric Surgeon Explains New Robotic Technology for Gallbladder Disease Treatment

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - May 5, 2014) - Jonathan W. Wallace, MD, a Chicago bariatric surgeon at the Suburban Surgical Care Specialists/Kane Center (SSCS), says he is dedicated to utilizing the latest advanced technologies in bariatric surgery to more effectively treat all of his patients, including those affected by gallbladder disease. Dr. Wallace says that while laparoscopic surgery -- a technique that utilizes small incisions and tiny surgical instruments -- has been the traditional method of treatment, robotic cholecystectomy is one of the latest, most advanced minimally-invasive gallbladder disease treatments. He says the technique often yields high patient satisfaction and high success rates while reducing treatment time, enabling quicker recovery, and minimizing pain and scarring following surgery.

Dr. Wallace says this procedure, utilizing the da Vinci® Surgical System robotic technology, may benefit those patients experiencing biliary dyskinesia (blockage of the gallbladder), gallbladder inflammation or infection, or gallstones. He notes gallbladder disease can be very painful; some people may experience nausea or vomiting, fever or chills, abdominal or back pain, and bloating. Dr. Wallace says if gallbladder disease goes untreated, the patient could experience digestive issues, tissue decay, and other serious health risks.

Dr. Wallace notes this advanced robotic technology allows bariatric surgeons to remove damaged tissue, gallstones, and if necessary, the gallbladder itself. The procedure involves insertion of small robotic instruments into the treatment site through one or a few small incisions near the patient's navel. Dr. Wallace says the da Vinci® Surgical System can be utilized by surgeons to view the 3D, high-definition camera images of the surgical area and control the movements of the robotic instrument. He notes that the robotic instruments should accurately mimic the surgeon's hand moves, and the technology provides surgeons with an amplified scope of the surgical field, increased dexterity, and improves their ability to identify and removed damaged tissue more precisely.

According to Dr. Wallace, the benefits of robotic cholecystectomy can include:

• Minimal time spent in the hospital for treatment
• Decreased risk of surgical complications
• Reduction of blood loss during surgery
• Fewer and smaller surgical incisions typically required
• Minimal scarring and pain
• Relatively quick recovery

Dr. Wallace says the procedure should not take more than one hour to complete. He notes most of his patients are able to leave the hospital immediately after surgery and resume light activities. Typically, Dr. Wallace's patients at the Chicago Bariatric Surgery practice fully recover within a couple of weeks following treatment.

For those who think they may be experiencing symptoms of gallbladder disease, Dr. Wallace recommends seeking an experienced bariatric surgeon to determine if robotic cholecystectomy is the best option for them.

About Jonathan W. Wallace, MD

Dr. Jonathan Wallace is a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. He earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in general surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of several respected medical associations, including the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the Chicago Medical Society. Dr. Wallace is available for interview upon request.

The practice can be found online at suburbansurgicalcare.com and facebook.com/pages/Suburban-Surgical-Care-Specialists/112793022140308.

To view the original source of this press release, click here: http://www.suburbansurgicalcare.com/news-room/chicago-bariatric-surgeon-explains-new-robotic-technology-for-gallbladder-disease-treatment/