Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD is a general surgeon in Houston, TX specializing in general surgery. He graduated from University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's and St. Luke's Health.
1919 Old Spanish Trail 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77054
One Baylor Plaza 390
Houston, TX 77030
Adrenalectomy (Adrenal Surgery)
Adrenalectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the adrenal glands, which lie above each kidney. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones that are necessary for bodily functions, such as the regulation of blood pressure and metabolism. If the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones, or if a tumor grows on them, removal of the glands is a treatment option.
Adrenal surgery can be open or laparoscopic. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that inserts a thin tube with a camera (laparoscope) through several small incisions on the abdomen. The surgeon uses the laparoscope to guide the procedure and is able to access and remove adrenal glands through the small incisions. Laparoscopic adrenal surgery lasts approximately 1-2 hours.
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is associated with shorter recovery periods, reduced risk of infection, and smaller scars. Although these factors may be desirable, the location of the tumor, its size, and the severity of the condition may require that an individual instead undergo open surgery. An open adrenalectomy is typically done for larger adrenal tumors and requires a single, large incision on the abdomen. Open adrenal surgery takes around 2-4 hours.
Following the operation, patients will remain in the hospital for 1-2 days for a laparoscopic adrenalectomy or 3-5 days for an open adrenalectomy. Patients will likely have a liquid diet immediately after their surgery, but should be able to return to solid foods after a day. If both of the glands are removed, patients will be given drug therapy to replace the hormones they produced.
Parathyroid Surgery
Parathyroid surgery is a procedure done to identify and remove diseased parathyroid glands. These tiny glands in the neck regulate calcium levels in the body. Occasionally, one or more of the parathyroid glands can become hyperactive, swelling and causing too much calcium to be moved from the bones to the bloodstream. This is called hyperparathyroidism, and it can cause problems including weakness, nervous system disorders, and kidney problems. To treat hyperparathyroidism, overactive parathyroid glands are removed.
One kind of parathyroid surgery is called bilateral neck exploration. The surgeon finds and looks at all of the parathyroid glands on both sides of the neck, visually identifying any that are diseased and removing them. Minimally invasive, or focused, parathyroidectomy is done to remove a single diseased gland. The gland causing problems is identified before surgery using localization techniques such as hormonal or radiology testing. Since in most cases only one gland is causing problems, focused parathyroidectomy is a common alternative to bilateral neck exploration. Both procedures are safe and effective.
In the rare case that all four glands are diseased, the surgeon will either remove three and a half glands and leave one half in place, or all four will be removed and part of one gland will be transplanted into the forearm. This is done to keep calcium levels where they should be.
After surgery, patients will have a bandage on their neck and a sore throat. Patients may only want liquids or very soft food for the first day, and thy may be asked to take calcium supplements for a while until their remaining parathyroid glands begin functioning well again. Recovery is fairly quick, and within a few days patients should be feeling like themselves again.
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid surgery is a procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the lower neck that regulates the hormones that manage metabolism. Thyroid surgery, also known as thyroidectomy, treats thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), goiters (noncancerous thyroid inflammation), and thyroid cancer. It may also be used to remove thyroid nodules or cysts that have a risk of becoming cancerous.
Both hypothyroidism and goiters are caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid cells for unknown reasons. The thyroid reacts by releasing too little or too much T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, impairing thyroid function and causing irregular metabolism. Goiters develop from the autoimmune reaction causing continued antibody damage to the thyroid over time. Thyroid goiters are large, swollen lumps that can be felt near the base of the neck. Obstructive goiters can cause pain, coughing, and abnormal breathing. Hypothyroidism may also be caused by iodine deficiency, as iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormones.
The exact cause of thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules or cysts is unknown. While thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules or cysts can occur in individuals with thyroid disorders, they are not associated with a malfunctioning thyroid.
Physicians may prescribe thyroid surgery if blood tests reveal patients' thyroid stimulating hormones (TSA) are outside of the acceptable range, indicating a malfunctioning thyroid. Thyroid biopsies (tissue samples) and tests for thyroid-attacking antibodies are also criteria for surgery.
An ENT or general surgeon performs thyroid surgery. While a patient is placed under anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision at the center of the neck and removes the thyroid gland. Two alternative methods of thyroid surgery are transoral (incision through the mouth) and endoscopic, where a surgeon operates a video camera for live footage to help guide the removal process.
Thyroid surgery requires minimal aftercare. Most patients recover quickly and resume normal activities within a few days of surgery. However, thyroid surgery patients must take daily synthetic thyroid medication (levothyroxine) for life to replace their removed thyroid.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.
The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD treated as a general surgeon in Houston, TX were endocrine surgery and neck surgery.
| 21 | |
| 19 | |
| 19 |
Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD.
| 19 | |
| 28 |
| 13 | |
| 22 | |
| 9 | |
| 26 |
The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.
| 60 | |
| 45 | |
| 23 | |
| 14 | |
| 39 | |
| 1 | |
| 6 | |
| 16 | |
| 3 | |
| 34 | |
| 1 | |
Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD graduated from University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He completed residency at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Board Certified, American Board of Surgery and has a state license in Texas.
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Residency: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Affiliated Hospitals
Board Certification: Board Certified, American Board of Surgery
Licensed In: Texas
Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD here: Leave a Review
These charts describe general payments received by Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
|
$60,562
$60,562 |
||||||
|
$6,271
Korlym $6,271 |
||||||
|
$3,167
$3,167 |
||||||
|
$244
STRATTICE $244 |
||||||
|
$221
$221 |
||||||
|
$2,287
Mako $170 |
Nexavar $158 |
STRATTICE RECONSTRUCTIVE TISSUE MATRIX BPS $136 |
OFIRMEV $131 |
STRATTICE $128 |
Other $1,564 |
| $56,652 | |
| $8,543 | |
| $4,480 | |
| $3,072 | |
| $6 |
Dr. James Suliburk, FACS, MD has received 2 research payments totaling $11,240.
Dr. James Suliburk is a specialist in general surgery. He works in Houston, TX. Dr. Suliburk is affiliated with Texas Children's and Baylor College of Medicine. He attended the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
