Fields of treatment / Surgery, laparoscopy, hernias, excision / Gallbladder removal
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: gallbladder removal
Cholelithiasis known as gallstones happens most commonly in middle aged or elderly patients. It occurs in men more frequently. Risk factors for forming gallstones include poor diet, eating food rich in fat, obesity, general lack of physical activity and stress. Cholelithiasis often has no symptoms. It also presents as dyspepsia or biliary colic.
Symptoms of gallstones
70% people have gallstones and never know it. Their gallstones do not cause any symptoms. You are often diagnosed with them when you have your abdomen examined because of another problem. When gallstones present as dyspepsia, patients have symptoms including abdominal pain, belching, bloating, loss of appetite, increased gas, stool problems or diarrhoea. Gallstones may develop in a gallstone attack which is severe pain in the upper right of your abdomen, under your ribcage. The pain radiates to other areas such as your back and your shoulder blade. Yoo feel sick or nauseated.
What is Laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder. It is used to treat many types of gallbladder disease. Most gallbladder problems are caused by gallstones, which differ in size, or by inflammations and gallbladder polyps. If you do not have acute biliary colic or inflammation in your gall bladder, cholecystectomy is indicated. When the surgery is done, dyspepsia disappears. Gallstones are removed and travel into bile duct. Forming a gallbladder tumour in is also prevented.
Cholecystectomy procedure: details
The procedure usually lasts 30 to 90 minutes, depending on how serious the gallbladder problem is. It is performed under general anaesthesia. It involves using a laparoscope and other instruments. The surgeon releases the gallbladder from the adhesions and clears the bile ducts. After that, he or she cuts off the vascular supply to the gallbladder and bile duct outlets using titanium clips. He or she separates the gallbladder from the liver bed completely. To conclude the procedure, abdominal drain is performed. This means a small plastic tube is put in to let any fluids drain (i.e. body fluids or blood.)
After the surgery
You will be able to get out of bed after you had your surgery come evening. You may start drinking fluids. You will feel pain in the surgery site. The pain goes away, and you may use pain medication to help it. All abdominal surgeries cause your bowels to stop working temporarily. You will need to wait 2 days before you may start eating light food, depending on your situation and type o surgery. You will need to follow a special diet, starting in 3-5 days after your surgery.
Hospitalization and recovery time after laparoscopic appendectomy
- You will normally stay in the hospital for 1-2 days. Then you will be discharged and go home.
- Drain is usually removed within 48 hours. Stitches are taken out in 7-10 days after your surgery.
- It will take around 2 to 3 weeks for you to be able to fully resume work
