What is a Cholecystectomy?
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is a common surgery carrying a small risk of complications. Most patients will be able to recover quickly following surgery.
Reasons for a Cholecystectomy
- Gallstones in the gallbladder – this is known as cholelithiasis
- Gallstones in the bile duct – this is known as choledocholithiasis
- Suffering from inflammation of the gallbladder – this is known as cholecystitis
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - what to expect
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - the procedure
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves the surgeon making a number of small incisions in the abdomen. The abdomen is then inflated with carbon dioxide gas, which allows space to work and ease of movement as well as greater visibility for the surgeon.
Hollow tubes are inserted into the incision ports. A tube with a very small camera and light is inserted into the abdomen, which allows the surgeon to watch a video monitor in the operating theatre, while using surgical tools inserted into the other ports to remove the gallbladder. Once the gallbladder has been removed the incisions are stitched closed.
As a routine, to A/Prof Pilgrim generally takes an x-ray image test of the bile ducts at the time of cholecystectomy to make sure the bile ducts don’t unexpectedly have stones within them, and to make sure everything looks as it should prior to completing the operation and before the patient is taken to the recovery area.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is minimally invasive, leaving very small incision scars and a much shorter recovery time. However this is not suited to every patient. In some cases, we may begin with a laparoscopic approach and find it necessary to proceed to an open cholecystectomy.
Open Cholecystectomy - the procedure
After gallbladder removal surgery
Following your laparoscopic cholecystectomy or cholecystectomy you should no longer experience any pain or discomfort of gallstones. In most cases a cholecystectomy will prevent gallstones from returning. As your gallbladder isn’t essential to your digestive system most patients won’t experience digestive problems following a cholecystectomy. How quickly you are able to return to normal activities following a cholecystectomy will depend on the procedure type (laparoscopic or open) and your overall health. Most people who have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy recover uneventfully and are most of the way back to their normal selves within the first two weeks post operatively, whereas an open cholecystectomy may require longer.