How to Prepare for Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder removal (or “laparoscopic cholecystectomy”) is one of the many commonly performed surgical procedures that patients undergo. Even though gallbladder removal is a minimally invasive type of surgery, there are still a few ways you will need to prepare:

Step 1. The first step involves blood work and a medical evaluation. Getting your blood drawn is necessary prior to surgery, as this can indicate to your surgeon that you may require special attention.

Step 2. Once your surgeon reviews your blood work and other medical documents, and goes over any risks and benefits, they will need to provide you with a letter of written consent for the procedure.

Step 3. Have a conversation with your doctor before the surgery. During this conversation, bring up any questions or concerns, as this can help to ease any anxiety you might have about the procedure.

Step 4. It’s important to stop any medications or blood thinners, such as Advil, the night before the operation unless your doctor suggests otherwise. The same also goes for food and water. However, if you must take medications, be sure to only swallow with a sip of water. 

Step 5. Learn about recovery. Although laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a minimally invasive procedure, it still helps to know what to expect after the operation. Not only is it important to know what steps you can take to feel 100 percent recovered, but it’s also essential to know what you can and cannot do afterwards.

If you have more questions about gallbladder removal, give us a call at 631-321-6801 today!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we strive to provide the best minimally invasive surgical solution for gallbladder removal. If you live in Nassau, Suffolk or the surrounding areas and are in need of a surgeon, click here to view our website or call us 631-321-6801 to schedule your free consultation today.

Meet Dr. John W. Hsu!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates your health is our number one priority. That’s why we strive to hire only the best and most skilled surgeons in the field to provide an array of high quality healthcare services, using both open and minimally invasive techniques. We know how scary it can be to find out that you need to have a procedure done, but getting to know your doctor prior to your surgery can help ease those fears. Through the implementation of our “Meet the Doctors” blog series, our goal is to help our patients feel calm, comfortable and confident that they’re in the best hands!

With that said, and without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to one of our own, Dr. John W. Hsu!

Originally from way out west, Dr. Hsu studied medicine and received his degree close to home at the University of Kansas. Upon receiving his medical degree the doctor went on to complete his surgical training at Truman Medical Center, a level I trauma center in Kansas City, Missouri..

But that’s not all! Dr. Hsu developed his education and medical career even further by pursuing specialty training in transplant surgery under a fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia PA. Upon completing his training, Dr. Hsu began practicing a wide variety of general surgery procedures, including: gallbladder surgery, hernia surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, endocrine surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, dialysis access surgery and treatment of varicose veins.

In addition to his many prestigious medical degrees and credentials, he is also an active member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and the Vascular Access Society of the Americas.

To learn more about how Dr. Hsu can help you, give us a call at 631-321-6801 today!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we strive to provide open and minimally invasive surgical solutions for any vascular or general health issues you may face. If you live in Nassau, Suffolk or the surrounding areas and are in need of a surgeon, click here to view our website or call us 631-321-6801 to schedule your free consultation today.

Meet Dr. John Francfort!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our surgeons are leading doctors in their respective fields, hailing from prestigious colleges, universities and surgical training programs country-wide. We want our patients to be calm and comfortable when undergoing any type of procedure, which is why we’ve decided to bring the doctors to you in our “Meet the Doctors” blog series.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. John Francfort!

Dr. John Francfort first received his surgical training in Philadelphia, PA at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. After completing his training and earning his degree at UPenn, he went on to specialize in vascular surgery through a training program at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. As such, he currently holds a dual board certification in both general and vascular surgery.

But that’s not all! Dr. Francfort continued to further his studies while giving back to the education system as an assistant professor of surgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA for quite some time. Since then, he has moved on to become a clinical assistant professor of surgery at both Stony Brook University and NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) on Long Island, where he still teaches today.

Like all of the doctors at Great South Bay Surgical Associates, Dr. Francfort has held many prestigious positions in the past, including acting as a former president of the eastern Long Island chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Currently, he is chairman of the Department of Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

As for surgical procedures, Dr. Francfort does it all! He’s highly skilled in performing a high volume of surgical cases including laparoscopic procedures, surgical oncology, breast, GI and colorectal care, gallbladder surgery, venous laser surgery and endovascular arterial surgery.

To learn more about how Dr. Francfort can help you, give us a call at 631-321-6801 today!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we strive to provide open and minimally invasive surgical solutions for any vascular or general health issues you may face. If you live in Nassau, Suffolk or the surrounding areas and are in need of a surgeon, click here to view our website or call us 631-321-6801 to schedule your free consultation today.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Here at Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we specialize in several types of laparoscopic surgery. So, what does that mean? Commonly called minimally invasive or keyhole surgery, laparoscopy is type of surgical procedure where the surgeon is able to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis through small incisions.

But, what if the surgical site is not directly in your belly? The beauty of a minimally invasive laparoscopy is that the surgeon will be able to feed small surgical instruments through the existing incision to reach the operational site. If you’re wondering how in the world surgeons are able to operate without being able to see the surgical site, the credit is due to a handy tool called a laparoscope. This is a small tube, equipped with a light source and camera, that’s weaved through the body displaying images of the patient’s insides on a television monitor for the surgeon to view. Amazing isn’t it?

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of a laparoscopic procedure:

1. The patient receives a general anesthetic, which will allow them to sleep peacefully and painlessly through the procedure.

2. The surgeon makes small incisions around the patient’s belly button.

3. Carbon dioxide is pumped into the abdomen through the incision to allow for more room to work, and more visibility during the procedure. At this point, the laparoscope is inserted through the small tube as well.

4. The surgeon inserts the necessary instruments and carries out the operation.

5. After the procedure has been completed, the abdomen is relieved of excess gas and the small incisions are stitched up.

And there you have it! Just like that, the procedure is finished. The advantages of having a laparoscopic surgery include a shorter anticipated hospital stay, less postoperative pain and discomfort, minimal scarring and an expedited recovery time.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we want our patients to be completely comfortable knowing that they are in only the best, most knowledgeable hands of leading surgeons in the field. Hernia repairs, appendectomies and gallbladder surgeries are some of the many laparoscopic procedures that our doctors specialize in. For more information or to schedule a consultation, click here to view our website or call 631-321-6801 today.

About Us!

Established in 1909 by founding partner Dr. Charles Murphy, Great South Bay Surgical Associates and  Vascular Lab has been serving the community with the tradition of caring and quality for over 100 years.  For generations we have provided high quality services using state of the art technologies in general and vascular surgeries, both open and minimally invasive.

Our practice is comprised of eight outstanding doctors that double as directors, department chairs of surgery and chairmen of the Surgical Peer Review Committee at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, presidents and fellows of the American College of Surgeons and other elite medical societies, and hold various additional positions as innovative leaders within their fields.

These surgeons specialize in a variety of general, vascular and colorectal surgical procedures such as:

• Hernia Surgery
• Gallbladder and Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Hemorrhoid Surgery
• Pelvic Floor Procedures
• Laser Varicose Vein Surgery
• Sclerotherapy Injection Treatments
• Carotid Artery Surgery
• And more!

We also specialize in surgical oncology, covering areas including:

• Breast Cancer (Lumpectomy and Breast Reconstruction)
• Gastrointestinal Cancer (Stomach, Small Bowel, Colon and Rectal)
• Melanoma and Skin Cancer
• Sarcomas (Tumors of the Muscle)

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates and Vascular Lab, we understand our patients’ necessity for knowledgeable, friendly doctors that provide convenient procedures with effective results.  Choose us for all of your surgical needs and rest assured that you’ll always be in good hands - the best in the field!

For more information about the services we offer visit us on the web or give us a call directly at 631-321-6801.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to get up to date information and health tips!