Dr. Joseph Uddo, Jr., is first in our region and one of only a handful of surgeons nation-wide to perform this breakthrough procedure.
Dr. Joseph F. Uddo, Jr., East Jefferson General Hospital general surgeon and past Chief of EJGH Medical Staff, became the first surgeon in our region to perform a gallbladder removal using the Single-Site da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. This breakthrough procedure allows the surgeon, through the use of robotic technology, to remove the gallbladder through one incision in the navel instead of the traditional laparoscopic method utilizing multiple incisions. The advantages of the robotic method include minimal scarring for the patient, a faster recovery, less bleeding and a lower risk of post-surgical infection.
Dr. Uddo is a leader in the field of robotic surgery and has been a pioneer in the research and development of minimally invasive procedures for over 20 years. He has received numerous accolades for his work to improve and perfect surgical practices and improved patient outcomes. Most recently, Dr. Uddo was named a 2012 Health Care Hero by CityBusiness Magazine, presented with the Louisiana State Medical Society Community Service Award in 2006 and was named EJGH Physician of the Year in 2005.
Gallbladder disease is very common and can be treated through surgery, medication or diet. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under the liver that stores and concentrates bile to help digest fat. Gallbladder disease includes: inflammation, infection, or blockage (obstruction) of the gallbladder. The most common blockage is a gallstone. Gallstones are pebble-like and solid. They can be as large as a golf ball or as small as a grain of sand. Symptoms of gallbladder disease may include: pain in the upper right side or middle of the abdomen, abdominal fullness, clay-colored stool, fever, nausea and vomiting, or yellowing of skin and whites of eyes (jaundice).
East Jefferson General Hospital
East Jefferson General Hospital is a publicly-owned, not-for-profit community hospital. This service district hospital, formed in 1965 and opened its door in 1971, receives no tax support from Jefferson Parish. The 420-bed hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is Louisiana’s first Nurse Magnet hospital and only facility in the state to receive designation for a third consecutive term. For more information on East Jefferson General Hospital, visit online at ejgh.org.