Cholecystectomy
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Find a ProviderWhat is a cholecystectomy?
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped storage organ located under the liver on the right side of the abdomen. It stores bile (yellowish-brown fluid) produced by the liver, which is required to digest fat. As food enters the small intestine, cholecystokinin (a hormone) is released, which signals the contraction of the gallbladder to release bile into the small intestine through the common bile duct (a small tube connecting the liver and intestine).
Although the gallbladder helps with digestion, it is not an essential part of the body as bile can reach the small intestine in many other ways. Therefore gallbladder removal is a safe treatment for gallbladder problems. Major gallbladder diseases include gallstones (concentrated bile) that can block the ducts (biliary colic), and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder). The removal of the gallbladder is performed by a procedure called cholecystectomy and is the most effective way to treat gallstones or other gallbladder diseases. Learn more about a cholecystectomy and why it is important when you schedule an appointment with a GI doctor at a GI Alliance location.
What happens during a procedure?
The surgical removal of the gallbladder can be done one of two ways:
Open cholecystectomy
The open method involves a 5-7 inch incision in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen, below the ribs. Your surgeon removes the gallbladder through the large, open incision.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a less invasive surgical method that uses a device called a laparoscope. The laparoscope is a small, thin tube with a light and tiny video camera (connected to a television monitor) attached at the end, which helps to view the inside of the abdomen during the operation.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon makes 3 to 4 small incisions in the abdomen. The laparoscope is inserted into the body through one of the incisions. The television monitor will guide the surgeon to insert other surgical instruments through the other incisions. Air or carbon dioxide is injected into the abdomen to inflate the abdominal cavity so that the gallbladder and other adjacent organs can be visualized easily. Your surgeon first cuts the bile duct and blood vessels leading to the gallbladder and then removes the gallbladder.
Your surgeon may also perform a procedure called a cholangiogram during the surgery, which uses X-rays and a dye injected into the body to view the bile ducts. This is done to identify gallstones that could have been missed, obstructions, or narrowing of the bile ducts. If stones are present, the surgeon uses a special instrument and removes them.
If you believe you need your gallbladder removed, consider contacting the gastrointestinal specialists at GI Alliance to schedule an appointment.
What is post-operative care like after removal?
Following laparoscopic surgery, you can go home on the same day or the next day after recovering from the effects of anesthesia. You can return to normal activities within 24 hours and resume work in a week. However, you should not engage in strenuous activities for a few more weeks.
The removal of the gallbladder is generally a safe procedure, but like all operations, there are risks and complications associated with the procedure. Some of these include bleeding, infection, injury to the bile duct, leakage of bile fluid, and damage to the bowel and large blood vessels when surgical instruments are inserted through the abdominal incisions. For additional information on gallbladder removal, schedule to meet with a GI specialist at GI Alliance.
What are the advantages of a cholecystectomy?
The advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, when compared to open surgical techniques, include shorter hospital stays, smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and faster recovery. If you believe you are a candidate for gallbladder removal, contact a GI Alliance location to schedule a consultation with a gastroenterologist.
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