Your gallbladder is a small organ in close proximity to your liver that’s responsible for storing bile produced by the liver. This organ releases the bile into your small intestines, which helps you break down fats. Different issues may require one to undergo laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
What is Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is a noninvasive surgery conducted under a general anesthesia. During the procedure, one of our surgeons will make small incisions where we’ll insert a narrow tube about one inch away from your belly button with a laparoscope, a small video camera, on the end of it. The video camera helps a surgeon to guide the tools. We insert surgical instruments into the other incisions to perform the surgery. A surgeon will inflate your abdomen with either carbon dioxide or air in order to get a better view of your gallbladder. You can expect the surgery to last around two hours.
Types of Gallbladder Surgeries
When bile hardens in the gall bladder, you have what’s known as a gall bladder stone. We can remove the stones using a laparoscopic surgery. In some cases, we might need to remove your entire gallbladder. Gallbladder surgery is oftentimes necessary if the gall bladder becomes infected or diseased. Removing the gall bladder won’t harm digestion.
After your surgery, bile will flow from your liver to the small bile duct and then into the small intestines. Your body will no longer store bile in between meals, but it usually doesn’t have an effect, or only a small effect, on digestion.
Safety of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery
Generally, laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a safe procedure. Less than two percent of patients experience complications. You could have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia or other drugs used during the surgery. Bleeding, damage to blood vessels or blood clots are possible. Heart problems such as tachycardia could occur. Other side effects include infection or injury to a bile duct or small intestine. Pancreatitis, a term meaning inflammation of the bile duct, could occur. We perform a complete physical examination and a medical history review prior to the surgery in order to ensure you’re eligible for the procedure, and you’re not at risk for complications.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Over Traditional Surgery
People who undergo the procedure tend to stay in the hospital for less time than if they had a traditional gallbladder removal surgery. Usually, you’re able to go home the same day or the following day. The recovery for laparoscopic surgery is less, and you’ll be able to go back to work and resume usual activities after a laparoscopic gallbladder removal within seven to 10 days. This time is even less if you just have gallbladder stone removal surgery.
Source
http://www.surgerygroupofla.com/procedures/gallbladder-surgery.aspx
