Dr. John A. Copp

Cholecystectomy

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Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove gallbladder. Gall bladder is a small pear shaped organ located just below the stomach. It stores bile, a digestive fluid that helps to break down fatty foods. Gallstones are the most commonly occurring disorder of the gallbladder.

Some of the common symptoms of gallstones are pain, fever, jaundice, vomiting and nausea. If the symptoms worsen your condition, then your doctor will suggest for cholecystectomy, which is either performed laparoscopically or through open surgery. Cholecystectomy procedure is also recommended to remove gallstones in the gallbladder and bile duct. The procedure also treats inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder. It is the only procedure to prevent the gall stones.

 

Procedure

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Open or traditional surgery: This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and your surgeon makes a single large incision in your abdomen. Surgical instruments are inserted through this incision, muscles and tissues are pulled back to expose liver and gallbladder, and then the gallbladder is removed. Later the incision is sutured and you need to be in the hospital for almost 2 weeks, after which you will be able to go home.

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Laparoscopic surgery or keyhole surgery: In this procedure, a surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen. Through one of the incisions, a laparoscope a small fiber-optic tube with a tiny camera is inserted into the abdomen.  Special surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions to remove the gallbladder. Through this approach, your surgeon will be able to view the surgery on a large screen.

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During this procedure, cholangiography (X-ray of the bile duct) is taken to look bile duct for any abnormalities. And if your surgeon finds stones in the bile duct, they can also be removed.

Some of the possible complications after cholecystectomy include bleeding, blood clots, wound infection, bile leakage into the abdomen, and injury to the bile duct, intestine, and blood vessels. However, these complications are mild and can be treated.

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Advantages of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery​

• Laparoscopic surgery requires minimal recovery time, shorter hospital stay, and less pain and discomfort after surgery.

• Open surgery requires longer hospital stay and recovery time and requires longer time to operate, and causes a large scar.