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June 2014
  
  

 

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June Calendar

 Take a look at what's going on at St. Francis this month:

 

 

June 3
Facts of Life for Mothers and Daughters

  

June 4
WomenHeart Support Group

  

June 17
Safe Sitter

 

June 19
Safe Sitter

 

June 26
HeartSaver CPR and AED
 

   
 Featured Article
  


Suddenly one day you have pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, that moves around to your back and shoulder. It's so severe that you feel nauseous. Please continue reading to learn more:

Gallbladder: A Little Organ that Can Cause a Lot of Pain

 

Severe pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, that moves around to your back and shoulder are common symptoms of an inflamed gallbladder, a condition called cholecystitis. 

 

The bad news: a three-inch, non-essential organ does have the ability to inflict severe pain. The good news: it's non-essential and can be removed without lasting repercussions. The better news? At St. Francis you could have your gallbladder removed and not even have a visible scar.  

 

Gallbladder, Gallstones and Cholecystitis 

The gallbladder is found just under the liver, and its purpose is to store bile made by the liver. Bile moves from the gallbladder to the small intestine through tubes called the cystic duct and common bile duct.  

 

 

 

Usually this part of digestion happens without incident. But some people, for unknown reasons, develop gallstones in their gallbladders. Many people have gallstones without any symptoms, or any idea that they are there. Problems occur, however, when a gallstone somehow shifts and blocks the cystic duct. This can cause the gallbladder to swell and become inflamed - a condition called cholecystitis.  

 

Symptoms  

The classic symptom of cholecystitis is pain in the upper right part of the belly. This pain can sometimes move around to your back or right shoulder blade, and can be severe. In some people the pain gets worse when trying to take a deep breath, or gets worse after meals. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and fever.    

 

Your doctor can use ultrasound to see if you have gallstones. An imaging test called a gallbladder scan can help find blockages in the tubes that lead from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.  

 

Treatment  

Because the gallbladder is not an essential organ, the main treatment is to simply remove the gallbladder. After the gallbladder is removed, bile from the liver flows through the common bile duct and into the small intestine. This means that the body cannot store bile between meals, but in most cases this has little or no effect on digestion. 

 

Surgical Options  

Unless there are other complications, removal of the gallbladder is a minimally-invasive surgery that is performed on an outpatient basis. There are several excellent options at St. Francis that provide little or no scarring:   

 

  • Single-site laparoscopic gallbladder surgery involves one small, crescent-shaped incision made just under the navel. Through this one incision, small surgical tools are used to remove the gallbladder. This surgery is done on an outpatient basis and requires just a few days of recovery.     

 

Surgeon performing this procedure:  

Dr. Daniel Jacques, Associates in General Surgery

 

  •  Single-site robotic gallbladder surgery is performed through one incision in the navel. The da Vinci robotic surgical system tools are inserted through the incision, and the gallbladder is removed from the same incision. Because the incision is made in the navel, after recovery there is no visible scar. This type of procedure is also outpatient, with only days of recovery time.    

 

Surgeons performing this procedure:

Dr. Thomas Mann, Jr., Carolina Surgical Associates 

Dr. Joseph Millican, Carolina Surgical Associates

 

 

Surgeons performing this procedure:   

Dr. David Anderson, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Tommy Bridges, Associates in General Surgery

Dr. Jeffrey Chaudhari, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Daniel Jacques, Associates in General Surgery

Dr. Thomas Mann, Jr., Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Joseph Millican, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. John Minasi, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Brian Sadowski, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Michael Towler, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. Bing Yi, Carolina Surgical Associates

Dr. James Young, Carolina Surgical Associates

 

 

 

All medical information from HealthWise, available at stfrancishealth.org.

 

 

 

 

Medical Videos at stfrancishealth.tv 

 

Check out our newly redesigned Media Center at stfrancishealth.tv! This is your one-stop-shop for all of our medical videos. You can see surgeries performed, learn from expert physicians about common conditions, hear the stories of current and former patients, and learn more about our Bon Secours Medical Group physicians with video bios.

Find a Bon Secours Medical Group Doctor
  

Did you know that when you choose a doctor, you are choosing your hospital? Today, most physicians are employed by a health system. Our providers are backed by the only hospital in South Carolina to be recognized as a 100 Top Hospital by Truven Analytics®, to receive six Healthgrades® America's 100 Best Awards, to be designated as an AAGL™ Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology, and are the first nationally accredited cath lab with Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE).

 

If you're looking for a physician or surgeon who is part of the Bon Secours Medical Group, our online tool can help you find the right one for you: http://stfrancishealth.org/find-a-physician.html.
  
Need Urgent Care? Think St. Francis!
 

Remember that Bon Secours Express Care downtown, After Hours Care in Greenville and Travelers Rest are open on weekends! For sports injuries, call 675-HURT for at-home advice and priority appointments. Stay safe and well!

Welcome to the Family
 
Bon Secours Medical Group is proud to welcome the following physicians:
  
FAIRVIEW FAMILY PRACTICE
864-967-4982
 
Julie Kinsman, MD 
Terrell Leeke, MD
  
WELLSPRING PRIMARY CARE
864-365-0255
Stephanie Phillips, MD   
Julie Stephens, MD
  
UPSTATE ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES

864-546-3699 

 

Robert Siegel, MD

Photos of the Month
  

 

 

Soaring ceilings and beautiful views...Outpatient Cancer Center at ST. FRANCIS millennium is making great progress towards its opening in the Fall.

 

 

  

Dr. Dyar and Dr. Yang of Upstate Oncology Associates lead off the Caregiver walk at ACS Relay for Life in Greenville.  

 

 

 

 

More progress on our Habitat House.

 

 
 

 

 

Chief Operating Officer Dan Duggan (right) lends a hand at the Habitat House.

 

 

 
 

 

 

Want to see more photos like these? Like us on facebook!

 
 
 
 

 


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