| Gallbladder
Surgery:
How
is the gallbladder removed?
The
surgery to remove the gallbladder is called
a cholecystectomy (say "co-lee-sist-eck-toe-mee").
With traditional surgery, the gallbladder
is removed through a 5- to 8-inch long incision
(cut) in your abdomen. The cut is made just
below your ribs on the right side and goes
to just below your waist. This is called
open cholecystectomy.
A
newer way to remove the gallbladder is called
laparoscopic (say "lap-are-oh-skop-ick")
cholecystectomy. With this surgery, a laparoscope
(a small, thin tube with a scope on the
tip of it that is used to see the inside
of your body) is used to remove the gallbladder.
Several small incisions are used rather
than one large incision.
How
is a laparoscope used to remove the gallbladder?
The laparoscope is put into your body through
a tiny cut made just below your navel. Your
doctor can then see your gallbladder on
a TV screen and do the surgery with tools
inserted in 3 other small cuts made in the
right upper part of your abdomen. Your gallbladder
is then taken out through one of the incisions.
What
are the benefits of this type of surgery?
With laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you may
return to work more quickly, have less pain
after surgery, have a shorter hospital stay,
and have a shorter recovery time. Unlike
traditional surgery, laparoscopic surgery
to remove the gallbladder can be done without
cutting the muscles of your abdomen. The
incision is also much smaller.
With
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you probably
will only have to stay in the hospital overnight.
With open cholecystectomy, you would need
to stay in the hospital for about 5 days.
Because the incisions are smaller with laparoscopic
cholecystectomy, there isn't as much pain
after this operation as after open cholecystectomy.
Who
shouldn't have this type of surgery?
If you had surgery around your gallbladder
before, if you tend to bleed a lot, or if
you have any problem that would make it
hard for your doctor to see your gallbladder,
an open surgery may be better for you. Your
doctor will decide which type of surgery
is appropriate for you.
What
are the complications?
Complications are rare but may include bleeding,
infection and injury to the duct (tube)
that carries bile from your gallbladder
to your stomach. Also, during laparoscopic
cholecystectomy, the intestines or major
blood vessels may be injured when the instruments
are inserted into the abdomen. Remember,
all of these complications are rare.
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