Minimally Invasive Surgery: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy or Gallbladder Removal
Your surgeon performs Gallbladder removal when gallstones cause inflammation, pain, or infection. Cholecystectomy surgery involves a few small incisions. It is a minimally invasive surgery to remove the gallbladder.
What is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Experts are performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove your gallbladder. Your experienced surgeon makes a few small incisions on the right side of your abdomen. Your skilled surgeon uses one incision to insert a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera at the end. Your surgeon can watch your gallbladder on the screen. Your skilled surgeon removes the gallbladder through another small incision. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is MIS rather than open cholecystectomy. The other form of gallbladder removal surgery involves a larger incision.
What is a gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a tiny pear-shaped vital organ that stores bile. It secretes a substance called bile made by the liver. It maintains the bile secretion until the body needs it to digest fatty foods.
Who needs to have gallbladder removal?
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy assists people with gallstones that create pain and infection. We know that Gallstones are crystals that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones can prevent bile from leaving the gallbladder and entering the digestive tract. This blockage causes inflammation of the gallbladder. Gallstones can also travel to other parts of the body and cause issues.
Symptoms of gallstones include:
- Bloating feeling
- Persistent Fever.
- Hepatitis causes a change in skin colour.
- Nauseautic feeling
- Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen, which may outreach to the back of the shoulder
How should a patient prepare for gallbladder removal?
Before the procedure, your surgeon will perform specific tests, such as
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Blood function
- Urinalysis
- Your surgeon will also talk to you about
- Any medications you are consuming.
- Your viable alternatives for restricting pain during and after surgery.
- Your surgeon may ask you to avoid food and liquid for a short time before the procedure.
What happens before laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Your doctor will administer general anaesthesia so that you sleep and have no pain during the procedure. Once you’re out, your surgeon will place a flexible tube down your throat to aid you in breathing. Your surgeon will place another workable tube and IV line in your arm to transfer fluids and medications.
What happens during laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy takes about two hours. Your surgeon starts with a few small incisions in your abdomen. Your surgeon will insert thin, hollow tubes into those incisions. Your surgeon will then place a laparoscope and other surgical tools into flexible tubes. Your surgeon may use carbon dioxide in your abdomen. This process enlarges the surgical area and makes it easier to see inside. Your surgeon will use special tools. Your surgeon will detach the gallbladder from the rest of the body and remove it. Your surgeon will then close the incisions with stitches, surgical clips, or surgical glue. If any complications happen during surgery, the surgeon may decide to use an open cholecystectomy instead. The procedure involves a larger incision.
What occurs after laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Your surgeon and his teammates will watch you for a few hours after cholecystectomy surgery. They want to ensure you do not have any problems when you wake up from anaesthesia. Teammates examine your heart, respiration, blood pressure, and urination abilities.
What are the benefits of gallbladder removal?
Gallstones cause discomfort and infection, which can be relieved by removing the gallbladder. It can help prevent gallstones from recurring. Your surgeon will treat gallstones very carefully, so you will never come across pain or illness. In some cases, the gallbladder may burst, which can be fatal.
What are the perils of laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
We are aware that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has risks like any other risks, but they are rare:
- You may have bile leaking in the body.
- Occasional Bleeding.
- Complications of anaesthesia.
- Hernial disorder
- You may have an injury to the bile duct, liver, or intestines after surgery.
- Dullness in the surgical area.
- You may face inflammation and infection in the abdomen.
- Small scars from the incisions.
- UTIs.
What are the precautions after gallbladder removal?
After the gallbladder removal, do the following to help yourself recover:
- You must avoid lifting heavy things.
- You have to drink plenty of water.
- You can eat foods high in fibre to help your bowel movements
- You must follow the instructions about taking care of your wounds and taking medications.
- You can slowly increase your daily activities.
- You can start your morning walk a little bit every day to prevent blood clots.
- You may need a minimum of two weeks before you are physically active.
When to seek medical attention after gallbladder removal?
After your discharge from the clinic, you can call your surgeon if you develop any of the following:
- Severe chills.
- Formation of cramps in your abdomen
- High fever
- Surgery problems like bleeding, swelling, and redness,
- Three days without a bowel motion
- Severe vomiting.
- Formation of yellow skin.