| The gallbladder surgery is not a problem any | | | | for those who have scars from other surgeries |
| more and it is one of the most common | | | | or for pregnant women in the last months or for |
| procedures made in the US. It is usually made | | | | those who have a severe inflammation along with |
| with the help of the laparoscope and that is why | | | | peritonitis. |
| its name is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. | | | | Before a surgery is done the patient will have to |
| The gallbladder is situated in the upper right side | | | | do some adjustments in his life like: giving up |
| of the abdomen, under the liver and above the | | | | smoking, a complete check-up of the organism, a |
| duodenum. Its function is to transport the bile | | | | written consent for surgery, and a shower the |
| produced by the liver into the bile ducts and then | | | | night before the surgery. Also, do not forget to |
| into the small intestine when needed. Bile is | | | | inform the surgeon about your current |
| requested after eating because it is used in the | | | | medication, this is very important for him. |
| process of digestion. Until then, the bile remains | | | | During the surgery the patient will be sleeping with |
| stocked inside the gallbladder and is being | | | | the help of an anesthetic and will not feel a thing. |
| concentrated. You must not worry that your | | | | The surgeon will make three small incisions inside |
| digestion will be affected after the removal of the | | | | the abdomen and one through the belly button. |
| gallbladder; most of the patients do not have | | | | Through those incisions he will introduce the |
| problems with that. | | | | laparoscope's instruments needed for surgery. |
| Gallstones are a result of a malfunction of the | | | | One of the laparoscope's instruments has |
| gallbladder. They appear when the liquid inside the | | | | attached an optic video camera which allows the |
| gallbladder hardens and creates small hard pieces | | | | medical team to see what it is inside your |
| that resemble to stone. | | | | abdomen. After that the surgeon will find the |
| The reason why gallstones form out of bile is | | | | gallbladder and will remove it with the help of the |
| because sometimes the normal bile composition | | | | other laparoscopic instruments. Also additional |
| can change containing a lot of cholesterol or a lot | | | | x-rays will be performed in order to see if there |
| of bile salts and bilirubin. | | | | are any gallstones inside the bile ducts too. The |
| If the bile gets locked inside one of these ducts | | | | wounds inside the abdomen will be closed with |
| complications like pancreatitis or gallbladder | | | | some stitches or surgical tape. |
| inflammation can occur. Signs of such a problem | | | | If the laparoscopic surgery can not be done, the |
| are: jaundice, fever and intense pain that lasts a | | | | surgeon will perform an open surgery, consisting |
| long time. | | | | out of making a cut inside the abdomen right |
| Gallstones are found by the doctor when using | | | | under the right ribs and removing the gallbladder |
| ultrasounds. There are other X-rays available too | | | | and gallstones through this incision. |
| and they can also localize the gallstones. Generally | | | | After surgery is done the patient might be feeling |
| surgery is recommended because gallstones do | | | | nausea or vomiting and will be approved to leave |
| not disappear by themselves. Of course, | | | | the hospital only after liquids or a diet is tolerated. |
| treatment consisting out of low fat diet and some | | | | The dressing will be removed after a day or two |
| drugs can help but the gallstones will continue to | | | | and the patient will be able to take a shower and |
| form after a while. | | | | walk. Normal activity is possible after a week of |
| The most recommended procedure of removing | | | | resting. Also, a check up at the hospital is |
| the gallbladder and gallstones is the laparoscopic | | | | recommended after two weeks had passed since |
| cholecystectomy. By using the laparoscope | | | | surgery was done. |
| procedure the patients will recover faster and will | | | | Complications can occur and you must call the |
| suffer less pain because the wounds of the | | | | doctor if you do not feel well. Some of the |
| abdomen are significantly smaller and less that | | | | complications are: pneumonia, infections of the |
| those made when performing a classical surgery. | | | | wounds, blood clots, fever, chills, bleeding, or heart |
| Most patients are free to go home after a day or | | | | problems. But generally complications do not occur |
| two of hospitalization. | | | | very often after gallbladder removal. |
| The laparoscopic procedure is not recommended | | | | |