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Dr. Elissa Kathleen Butler, MD MPH is a pediatric general surgeon in Minneapolis, MN specializing in pediatric general surgery and surgical oncology (cancer surgery). She graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Elissa Kathleen Butler, MD MPH is affiliated with University of Minnesota Physicians.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove a small sample of cells for testing. The cells are examined in a laboratory to check for disease, or sometimes to see how badly a known disease is affecting them. Biopsy can be performed on any part of the body.
Although biopsy is most often associated with cancer, it can also be used to check for other diseases, such as infections. A biopsy sample can be scraped, cut, collected with a needle, taken with a machine that punches out a tiny piece, or removed with the tiny tools in an endoscope.
In most cases, a biopsy is a simple outpatient procedure. Depending on the procedure, patients may need to stop taking certain medications beforehand, such as blood thinners. It is important for patients to tell doctors if they are pregnant, as certain biopsies require the use of x-rays to guide the needle to the right location. There is usually very little pain associated with a biopsy. Patients will have to wait a few days to hear the results.
Gallbladder Removal Surgery (Cholecystectomy)
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the upper abdomen, underneath the liver. Its purpose is to store bile, which is used to digest fat. Occasionally, the gallbladder can develop mineral stones, called gallstones. If they are large enough, gallstones can block the ducts in the gallbladder and cause swelling and infection. Gallstones can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication, but sometimes this is not enough. In these cases, it is best to remove the gallbladder before it can cause more serious problems. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.
Today, most gallbladder surgeries are done laparoscopically. Four tiny incisions are made in the abdomen, and small tools are inserted through these tiny incisions to perform the surgery. Because the incisions are much smaller, recovery time is much faster with this type of surgery. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the same day. Sometimes, open surgery is used to remove a gallbladder. In this type of surgery, a cut about six inches long is made in the upper right abdomen. After the gallbladder is removed, it is sutured or stapled closed. With open surgery, patients usually stay in the hospital for two to three days to recover before they are discharged.
Gallbladder removal, like any surgery, carries some risks, such as bleeding, infection, or the development of blood clots. Doctors will tell patients how to minimize their risk for complications. After surgery, patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity for several days. They should not soak in a bath until their sutures or staples have been removed. Patients should wash hands before touching the area around the incision. It will take a couple of days until patients feel like themselves again and a few weeks until their scar has healed and faded.
Dr. Elissa Kathleen Butler, MD MPH graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. She completed residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the The American Board of Surgery and has a state license in Minnesota.
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Residency: SUNY Upstate Medical University Affiliated Hospitals
Board Certification: The American Board of Surgery
Licensed In: Minnesota
Dr. Elissa Kathleen Butler, MD MPH is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
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Dr. Elissa Butler is a surgical oncology (cancer surgery) and pediatric general surgery specialist in Minneapolis, MN. These areas are among her clinical interests: colostomy reversal, gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy), and inflammatory bowel disease. She is affiliated with the University of Minnesota Physicians. Dr. Butler graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. For her professional training, Dr. Butler completed a residency program at a hospital affiliated with SUNY Upstate Medical University. She speaks French.
