From the wall of your stomach to your abdominal organs, the middle section of your body can require a broad range of procedures. At Evansville Surgical Associates, our board-certified surgeons are here to help you navigate abdominal surgery and restore your quality of life.
Abdominal surgery involves the removal of a mass or masses from the middle of your body via incisions. Common forms of abdominal surgery include gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. While minimally invasive surgery has become more common, open surgery may still be necessary in some cases.
Abdominal Surgery in Evansville, IN
All of our surgeons at Evansville Surgical Associates are certified by the American Board of Surgery. They serve both Evansville, Indiana, as well as the tri-state area to provide patients with the highest quality medical treatment.
When you choose the team at Evansville Surgical Associates, you’re getting more than a surgeon. Our medical staff also serve as leaders in our medical community, helping to run and operate both of our level two trauma centers. With this in mind, you can rest easy knowing that you will receive the highest quality of care for any surgical procedures that you may need.
Reasons You May Need Abdominal Surgery
There are a variety of abdominal surgery types. However, what they all have in common is the removal of a mass or masses from the abdomen through incisions. The type of abdominal surgery received will be based on your particular medical problem. You can take comfort in knowing our surgeons are here to determine the best course of treatment and perform the best surgery for your case.
Gallbladder Surgery
The gallbladder is a part of an important network of organs and glands that helps aid digestion and other bodily functions. Unfortunately, the gallbladder can develop gallstones that can cause:
- Inflammation
- Blocked bile ducts
In this case, a form of abdominal surgery known as cholecystectomy may become necessary. This procedure involves the removal of the gallbladder and is a common solution for gallstones and other gallbladder issues.
Click here to learn more about minimally invasive gallbladder removal!
Appendectomy
It may come as a surprise, but experts aren’t sure what the appendix actually does. Despite that fact, a ruptured appendix due to blockage can be traumatic. One of the clearest symptoms that patients experience is pain in their abdomen. It’s usually felt in the lower-right side of the abdomen, although it can also start in your belly button first and eventually move further down.
Other symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Fever or chills
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
These are signs of a major problem even if you don’t have appendicitis, so seek medical treatment immediately if you experience them.
To learn more about appendicitis and how it’s treated, click here!
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Also known as the aorta, the aortic artery is a large artery that runs through the center of your heart to your stomach. It helps pump blood throughout your body, including your:
- Legs
- Pelvis
- Abdomen
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the artery begins to balloon or bulge due to its walls becoming weak. This process can occur slowly over time and can eventually result in a rupture or tears in its walls that cause internal bleeding.
Click here to learn more about the importance of screenings for abdominal aortic aneurysms!
Minimally Invasive vs. Open Abdominal Surgery
As with different types of abdominal problems, there are also different types of abdominal surgery — namely, minimally invasive surgery and open surgery. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but your surgeon will be able to recommend which one is best for your specific case.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Also known as laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive surgery uses multiple tiny incisions to perform a procedure. It takes its name from the laparoscope, a tiny fiber-optic tool with a light and camera on the end. It allows your surgeon to see inside the body without the need for creating larger incisions.
It’s important to keep in mind that minimally invasive surgery won’t always be an option in some cases. On the other hand, it’s become much more popular due to its versatility as well as its benefits for patients.
With minimally invasive surgery, you can experience:
- Smaller scars
- Shorter hospital stays
- Less pain after surgery
- Reduced risk of infection
- Faster abdominal surgery recovery time
- Lower risk of bleeding during and after surgery
All of the surgeons at Evansville Surgical Associates are expertly trained and qualified in these types of procedures. They will be able to determine if minimally invasive surgery is right for you and perform the procedure.
To learn more about minimally invasive surgery in Evansville, IN, click here!
Open Surgery
Open surgery is what many people think of when they think of surgery. It involves creating a large incision for your surgical team to perform a procedure. Open surgery has been replaced by minimally invasive techniques in many cases.
However, it is still the most effective option for:
- Making repairs not possible with minimally invasive surgery
- Making accurate diagnoses
- Completely removing tissue
- Implanting stents and other materials
It’s also still common for certain procedures to be performed with open surgery. For example, gallbladder surgery can be performed with a laparoscope. However, 5 – 10 out of 100 patients will require a larger incision for the procedure to be successful. For gallbladder and similar procedures, open abdominal surgery is often still the better choice.
Do you need to schedule abdominal surgery in Evansville, IN? Call us today at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to schedule your appointment!
Surgeons make incisions to remove a mass or masses during abdominal surgery. This covers a broad range of abdominal organ problems, including the gallbladder, appendix, and aortic artery. Minimally invasive and open techniques can be used for surgery with minimally invasive being the most popular. However, there are times when open surgery will be the best option.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231. We are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm if you would like to schedule an appointment.
