Other surgical procedures performed by Dr. Harris:
- Appendectomy
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid surgery; cancer and benign enlargement / hypercalcemia
- Pilonidal cysts
- Venous Access Ports and Catheters for TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition), long term IV (Intravenous) antibiotics, chronic phlebotomy (blood drawing or hemochromatosis).
- Laparoscopic and open insertion of the abdominal portion of VP (Ventriculo-Peritoneal) Shunts
- Lymph node biopsies and lymph node dissection
- Abdominal dialysis catheters
- Skin tumors, biopsies and lesions (lipomas moles, skin cancer, melanoma)
- Lacerations, skin cysts
- Muscle biopsies
- Splenectomy for ITP or tumors
Dr. Harris routinely cares for patients with abdominal pain. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain is perhaps one of the most common patient complaints leading to a surgical consultation.
The possibility of appendicitis must always be considered.
Appendicitis can usually be treated by laparoscopic appendectomy, but occasionally requires use of the open technique.
History of Appendicitis
-In 1735, Dr. Amyan, an English Army surgeon performed the first recorded appendectomy- and without anesthesia.
-1886, the first description of appendicitis was by a non surgeon, Dr. Reginald H. Fitz, an anatomo-pathologist at Harvard. Reportedly, he recommended early appendectomy for this condition, but was ignored as he was not a surgeon.
-Late 1890's: First successful open appendectomy for acute appendicitis was performed by Dr. H. Hancock, an English surgeon.
-The first laparoscopic assisted appendectomy was performed by Dr. DeKok in 1977.
-In 1983, the first completely laparoscopic appendectomy was performed by Dr. Semm, a German Gynecologist.
The incidence of acute appendicitis in Americans and other Western countries is about 7% over their lifetime.