In the past ... When her surgeon recommended a gallbladder operation, maybe you thought about the experience of a relative or friend who had had this surgery years ago. These people had a large incision and probably had much pain after surgery. They were in the hospital for a week and did not return to normal activities about six weeks. You may be concerned about a similar experience. Perhaps you can not afford to be absent from work and is concerned not to be fully functional in the home for a month or more.

Today ... There is an innovative technique to great advantage. Removing the gallbladder is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States. Today, most gallbladder surgeries are performed laparoscopically. The medical name for this procedure is laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Instead of an incision five to seven inches (13 - 18 cm), the operation requires only four small openings in the abdomen.

The patient usually has minimal postoperative pain.

The patient usually experiences a faster recovery than patients undergoing traditional surgery of the gallbladder. Most patients go home in a day and enjoy a rapid return to normal activities.

WHAT IS THE GALLBLADDER?
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that rests under the right side of the liver.

Its main function is to collect and concentrate a digestive fluid (bile) produced by the liver. Bile is released from the gallbladder after eating, aiding digestion. Bile travels through narrow tubes (bile duct) into the small intestine.

In most patients the removal of the gallbladder is not associated with any impairment of digestion.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF gallbladder problems?
The gall bladder problems are usually caused by the presence of stones, which are small hard masses consisting primarily of cholesterol and bile salts that form in the gallbladder or bile duct.

It is not known why some people form stones.

There is no known means to prevent stones.

These stones can block the flow of bile from the gallbladder, causing it to swell and resulting in acute abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, and occasionally fever.

If the stone obstructs the common bile duct can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin).

How to locate and treat these problems?
After the patient has symptoms ...

Ultrasound (sonogram) is the method used to find the calculations.

In a few more complex cases, other tests with X-rays can be used to evaluate the gallbladder.

The calculations do not go away by themselves. Some may be temporarily managed with drugs or special diets, to suspend the absorption of fat. This treatment has a low short-term success rate and the symptoms continue until the gallbladder is removed.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder is the most widely recognized treatment over time and safe for the pathology of the gallbladder.

WHAT PREPARATION IS REQUIRED?
Before surgery, you should stay solid and liquid fasting from midnight the previous day.

You should shower the night before or the morning of surgery.

If you have difficulty in bowel movements, an enema or some similar preparation may be used after consultation with your surgeon.

Some preparatory examination may be required based on your medical condition.

If you take any daily medication, discuss with your surgeon if he wants to take any medication on the morning of surgery with a sip of water. If you take aspirin, blood thinners or medications for arthritis, you need to discuss with your surgeon the appropriate time to discontinue these drugs before surgery.

AS IS Laparoscopic Gallbladder?
Under general anesthesia, the patient is asleep during surgery.

Using a cannula (thin tube), the surgeon enters the abdomen at the navel region.

A laparoscope (a tiny telescope) connected to a special camera is inserted through the cannula, giving the surgeon a magnified view of the patient's internal organs on a television screen.

Other cannulas are inserted which allow your surgeon to delicately separate the gallbladder from its attachments and then remove it through one of the openings.

Many surgeons perform an X-ray called a cholangiogram, to identify stones which may be located in the bile duct or to ensure that structures have been identified.

If the surgeon finds one or more stones in the bile duct, it can extract (the) using a special scope, may choose to have them removed later using another minimally invasive procedure or may convert to open surgery in order to remove all the stones in this surgery .

After the surgeon removes the gallbladder, the small incisions are closed with a stitch or two or with surgical tape.

What if the surgery can not be done via laparoscopy?
In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method is not possible for the inability to visualize or handle organs effectively. When the surgeon decides it is safer to convert to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, this is not a complication. This decision means good surgical trial. Some factors that increase the risk of conversion to open surgery, including obesity, history of prior abdominal surgery causing dense scar or bleeding during surgery. The decision to perform an open trial is a decision made ​​by your surgeon before or during surgery. The decision to convert to any open procedure is strictly based on patient safety.

WHEN CAN RETURN TO WORK?
Most patients can return to work within seven days after the laparoscopic procedure. Of course, this depends on the nature of their employment. Patients with administrative or desk jobs usually return in a few days, while those with manual jobs or have to lift heavy objects may take a little longer. Patients with traditional methods can not return to normal activities for four to six weeks.

YOU HAVE A BIG SCAR?
No. Using laparoscopic techniques, the surgeon can avoid a large incision, leaving the patient alone with about four small marks.

SURGERY LAPARAROSCOPICA of the gallbladder is SAFE?
Numerous medical studies show that the complication rate for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is comparable to the rate of complications from traditional surgery gallbladder when performed by a properly trained surgeon.

RISKS RELATED TO EXIST laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
There are risks related to any kind of operation, the vast majority of laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients experience few or no complications and quickly return to normal activities. It is important to remember that before undergoing any type of surgery (whether laparoscopic or open), you should ask your surgeon about his experience and training. The risks of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are less than the risks of leaving a condition untreated.

Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are rare, but may include bleeding, infection, pneumonia, blood clots or heart problems. An inadvertent damage to surrounding structures such as the common bile duct or duodenum may occur and may require another procedure to repair it. Have been described leakage of bile into the abdomen from the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the duodenum.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SURGERY bile duct?
Removing the gallbladder is a major abdominal surgery and a certain amount of pain can be felt. Nausea and vomiting are not uncommon.

Once the liquid or the diet is tolerated, patients leave the hospital the same or the next day of laparoscopic surgery of the gallbladder.

The activity depends on how the patient feels. Walking is recommended. Patients can leave the dressings and shower the day after surgery.

Patients are likely to be able to return to normal activities within a week, including car driving, climbing stairs, light lifting and work.

In general, recovery is gradual from when the patient returns home.

The presence of fever, yellowing skin or eyes, worsening abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and persistent vomiting, or drainage from the wounds are some indications that a complication may have occurred. You should contact your surgeon in these circumstances.

You may request an appointment within two weeks after surgery, even if their postoperative been running smoothly.

REMOVAL laparoscopic gallbladder IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Although there are many advantages of laparoscopy, the procedure may not be appropriate for some patients who have had previous abdominal surgeries or who have any prior medical condition. Through an evaluation by your personal physician, and consult a general surgeon trained in laparoscopy, can determine if laparoscopic gallbladder removal is right for you.