For Referring Physicians | Gwinnett Robotic Surgery

How to Refer a Patient

Referring a patient to Dr. Kakarla is straightforward. Call our office directly or fax clinical notes. We will schedule the patient promptly — same-day and next-day consultation appointments are available for urgent referrals.

Contact Information

Office phone: (770) 962-9977
Fax (clinical notes & records): (770) 339-9804
After hours / urgent: Call (770) 962-9977 — 24/7 answering service connects directly to Dr. Kakarla

What to Include with Your Referral

Patient name and contact information
Referring diagnosis or reason for consultation
Relevant imaging reports (CT, MRI, ultrasound)
Endoscopy and biopsy reports (if applicable)
Relevant lab work
Operative reports (if prior surgery at the referred site)
Insurance information

Please fax clinical notes to (770) 339-9804. There is no digital referral submission path. All clinical documents should be faxed for patient privacy and HIPAA compliance.

Scope of Practice

Dr. Kakarla accepts referrals for the full range of general surgery, with particular expertise in:

Robotic hernia repair — inguinal, ventral, umbilical, incisional, hiatal, complex/recurrent
GERD / anti-reflux surgery — robotic fundoplication, redo fundoplications
Robotic gallbladder surgery — with ICG fluorescence guidance
Robotic colon & rectal surgery — cancer, diverticulitis, polyps, fistula
Robotic GI surgery — gastrectomy, small bowel resection, GIST
Anorectal surgery — hemorrhoidectomy, anal fistula repair
Acute care / emergency surgery — appendectomy, SBO, perforated viscus, abscess
Skin & soft tissue — lipoma, lesion excision, pilonidal disease

Dr. Kakarla does not perform trauma surgery or breast surgery.

Second Opinion Referrals

Dr. Kakarla welcomes second-opinion consultations, including patients with prior failed repairs or complex surgical histories. Please fax the prior operative report, any relevant imaging, and pathology to (770) 339-9804. Patients may also call our office directly without a physician referral.

Northside Hospital Pre-Surgery Line: Patients with pre-surgery questions about anesthesia or day-of logistics can call (678) 312-2443.

Quick Referral Process

Referring a patient takes less than 2 minutes. No prior authorization is needed from our end.

Step 1 — Call or Fax

Phone: (770) 962-9977 — ask for the surgical scheduling team

Fax: (770) 339-9804 — fax clinical notes, imaging reports, and patient demographics

No digital upload — all clinical documents must be faxed for HIPAA compliance.

Step 2 — We Schedule the Patient

Most patients are seen within 1–3 business days. Urgent and emergency consultations are available same-day. We contact the patient directly to schedule.

Step 3 — You Receive a Report

A consultation letter is sent to the referring physician after the visit. An operative report follows after any surgical procedure. Reports are faxed to the number on file.

Complex Cases We Specifically Welcome

Dr. Kakarla has particular expertise in cases other surgeons may not offer:

Recurrent hernias — inguinal, ventral, incisional, and hiatal hernias that have failed prior repair

Complex abdominal wall reconstruction — large ventral hernias requiring component separation technique

Revision fundoplication — failed anti-reflux surgery requiring redo

Robotic alternatives to open surgery — patients told they need open surgery who may be candidates for robotic approach

Multidisciplinary cancer cases — colon, rectal, and gastric cancer with oncology team coordination

High-risk surgical patients — elderly, anticoagulated, or medically complex patients who benefit from minimally invasive approach

Want to discuss a case before referring? Call Dr. Kakarla directly at (770) 962-9977 — physician-to-physician calls are welcomed.

Peri-Operative Protocols Your Patients Should Know

Anticoagulation Management

We manage peri-operative anticoagulation directly. Standard protocols: Eliquis/Xarelto held 2–3 days, Warfarin held 5 days (bridging if indicated), Plavix held 5–7 days. Restart instructions provided at discharge.

GLP-1 Medications

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 agonists are held 2–4 weeks pre-operatively due to delayed gastric emptying and aspiration risk under anesthesia.

ERAS Protocol

All patients are managed with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols: multimodal non-opioid-first pain management, TAP blocks, early mobilization, and early feeding. This results in shorter stays and reduced opioid use.