The gallbladder is the pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. It collects and stores bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver.If a patient needs his gallbladder removed, a cholecystectomy is performed. A cholecystectomy is necessary if there is pain from gallstones that... Read more
A benign tumor is a tumor that is not cancerous. In many cases, these masses do not pose any danger. But, if the tumor is pressing on a blood vessel or a nerve, it needs to be removed or reduced.“Cancer cells can multiply and spread to surrounding tissues,... Read more
An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue bulges through a weak point in the groin muscle. To prevent complications from developing, surgery is the most common treatment for such types of hernia.“Three decades ago, hernia repair surgery was an open procedure that required weeks of recovery,” says... Read more
When you schedule your surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center, you know you will receive expert care from the top specialists in the region – and you will not have to travel hours for it.“In recent years, patients have been returning home after surgeries much sooner... Read more
When others ask him to name his favorite hobby, Joseph M. McClain, MD, MS, FACS, trauma surgeon, Saint Francis Medical Partner does not hesitate. “I always say my job is my favorite hobby,” says McClain, who recently came to Saint Francis. “At the end of the... Read more
After undergoing total knee replacement surgery, Jacob Eaker required additional assistance to help him recover. Saint Francis Home Health was just what he needed, providing a nurse and physical therapist to help him care for his wound and gain strength in his knee and leg.Eaker, 71,... Read more
There are many different treatments for severe back pain, including medication and physical therapy. In some situations, however, surgery is the best option to relieve the pain. One common type of back surgery is fusion, a procedure that permanently connects two or more vertebrae in the... Read more
Even before he underwent a hip replacement in December, Tom Rozier knew much more than the average person about joint surgery. Through his job in medical sales, he has worked with physicians in dozens of hospitals across Southeast Missouri.When it came time to plan his own... Read more
Infections can be a big problem for patients who have recently undergone surgery.Saint Francis Medical Center provides a video for patients detailing what they can expect before surgery and how they can best care for their surgical sites.“Washing hands is key,” says Charles Edward LaValle III,... Read more
When a person has an unusually large or cancerous lesion in his colon or another part of his gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) can be an effective, minimally invasive method to remove that lesion.“While a colonoscopy or polypectomy can be used to remove small polyps,... Read more
