Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy)

Posted: April 1, 2005

Your liver produces bile (a fluid that aids in digestion and breaks down fatty foods) and sends it to the gallbladder and the small intestine through ducts. When bile and other fluids inside the gallbladder become unbalanced, the chemicals solidify and form gallstones.

Many gallbladder problems are caused by gallstones. Abdominal swelling, sharp abdominal pain, vomiting and indigestion may be the result of gallstones moving and/or blocking a duct(s).

Laparoscopic procedure
The surgeon makes four small abdominal incisions. A laparoscope attached to a camera is inserted through one incision allowing the surgeon to view inside the body. Specially designed instruments are inserted through the other incisions to perform the procedure and remove the gallbladder.

Patients may return home the same day of surgery or the day after depending on other factors. Some discomfort may be felt in the right shoulder from carbon dioxide that is used during the procedure for "visualization." The discomfort is temporary.

The overall post-operative pain is much less compared to the traditional or "open" procedure because no major muscle groups are cut.

Some patients may experience gas pains and other discomfort until the digestive system returns to normal. When the small incisions heal, the scars may be nearly invisible. Resumption of normal activities usually occurs within five days after surgery.

Source: Milwaukee Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (www.mimis.us)

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