Bala Thatigotla, MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. Bala Thatigotla is a bariatric, gastrointestinal, general and robotic surgeon with over a decade of experience in performing a wide range of advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. He specializes in bariatric procedures such as Roux en y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, Endo bariatric procedures, along with complex revision bariatric surgeries. Dr. Thatigotla has an extensive amount of experience performing procedures for diseases of gall-bladder, bile duct, esophageal, gastric, colon and hernia procedures using minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

Dr. Thatigotla received his medical degree from Sri Venkateswara Medical College in Tirupati, India. After completing his residency in general surgery at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Albert Einstein School of Medicine/Bronx Lebanon Hospital Medical Center, Dr. Thatigotla went on to complete a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic bariatric and robotic surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Thatigotla has his master’s in business administration with a health care specialization from University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Thatigotla is board certified in general surgery, bariatric surgery, obesity medicine and health care quality management. Before joining WakeMed as the Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery & Medical Weight Loss, Dr. Thatigotla has held several leadership positions including Director of Bariatric Surgery, Chairman of Surgery, Associate Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. He has been a member and leader of various professional surgical organizations and received various teaching, quality and patient choice awards throughout his career.

Dr. Thatigotla believes in a well-rounded, comprehensive, holistic patient care approach. From the very first interaction and throughout the patient’s health care journey, he strives to make patients feel supported and heard. Outside of work, Dr. Thatigotla enjoys playing tennis, long distance road biking and traveling.

Specialty Procedures

Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery: 

• Robotic/laparoscopic Roux En Y Gastric bypass
• Robotic/laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
• Gastric band removal and revisions
• Robotic/laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion-duodenal switch
• Robotic/laparoscopic SADI
• Revision Bariatric surgery for chronic complications, weight regain

Endo Bariatric Procedures:  

• Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty
• ToRe[Transoral outlet reduction] for weight regain.

Acid reflux surgeries        

• Robotic/laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernias,Fundolications
• LINX device insertion

Hernia surgeries:

• Robotic/laparoscopic abdominal, groin hernias
• Robotic/laparoscopic abdominal wall reconstruction for complex hernia
• Robotic /laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair

Esophagus:

• Laparoscopic and robotic paraesophageal hernias
• Robotic Heller myotomy for Achalasia. 

Biliary-pancreatic Surgeries:   

• Robotic/laparoscopic surgeries for gall bladder
• Robotic/laparoscopic, Common bile duct procedures
• Robotic pancreas procedures 

Stomach:

• Robotic/laparoscopic surgeries for cancer, non-cancerous conditions

Colon and Rectum:

• Robotic/laparoscopic Colo-rectal procedures  for cancer and non-cancerous conditions.

Gastric Motility Disorders:

• Gastric Pyloroplasty, Pacemaker insertion 

Solid Organ: 

• Robotic adrenalectomies
• Robotic splenectomies

Interventional Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal endoscopies 
Minimally Invasive General Surgery 
Research interests: 

• Metabolic surgery
• Robotics in general /GI surgery