The gall bladder is an organ that receives and concentrates bile from the liver and releases it into the digestive tract after a meal. The organ may be affected by a number of diseases that include tumors, gall stones and infections among others. In some cases, there is a need to open it up so as to deal with the problem. The laparoscopic technique is among the most popular approaches used today. There are a number of things on laparoscopic gallbladder surgery Houston residents need to know.
Your doctor will subject you to a number of tests before they make a decision to take you in for the operation. Ultrasound, CT scan and other imaging studies are among the most informative. They not only help in the diagnosis and staging of the illness but also go a long way into helping the surgeon decide whether surgery will be beneficial in a particular case. A more invasive but useful test is known as magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatograhy (MRCP).
Once you have been assessed and deemed fit enough, you will be prepared for the operation. Part of it entails further tests. Since gallbladder disease is often seen alongside liver disease, liver function tests are an important component of the investigative process. You will be instructed to stop drugs that are likely to increase your risk of bleeding. Such may include aspirin, blood thinners and nicotine (from tobacco).
The abdomen is usually opened using three small incisions (ports). These are used to insert the surgical instruments as well as the camera (laparoscope). Images from the camera are transmitted onto a monitor in the operating room and this guides the surgeon through the entire operation. The ports are also used to introduce a small amount of carbon dioxide gas into the abdominal cavity so as to make individual organs more distinct and accessible.
General anesthesia is usually used for this kind of surgery. With this anesthesia, one sleeps during the entire surgery and reversal only happens after it has been completed. The average time required is about two hours. Your bile should flow normally as soon as the procedure has been completed. In case, the gallbladder is removed, the storage of bile may be affected but this has very little effect on the process of digestion if at all.
There are a number of possible complications associated with this operation. They include bleeding, infections and injury to vital structures. In about 5% of procedures there is a need to switch from the laparoscopic to the open procedure due to complications. Common reasons as to why this may be necessary include, extensive inflammation and the presence of scar tissue that makes access to the gallbladder difficult.
Laparoscopy has several advantages over the open technique. One of the advantages is the fact that the surgical cuts are smaller hence the scars that are formed later on are less conspicuous. The smaller incisions also results in less bleeding and less pain. Perhaps the most important is the fact that the recovery time is significantly shortened.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery can be done in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Since general anesthesia is usually used, most surgeons prefer that the procedure be carried out in an inpatient facility where observations can be carried out over one or two days. You can resume your normal activities in seven to ten days. There is no need for a special diet during the recovery period.
Your doctor will subject you to a number of tests before they make a decision to take you in for the operation. Ultrasound, CT scan and other imaging studies are among the most informative. They not only help in the diagnosis and staging of the illness but also go a long way into helping the surgeon decide whether surgery will be beneficial in a particular case. A more invasive but useful test is known as magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatograhy (MRCP).
Once you have been assessed and deemed fit enough, you will be prepared for the operation. Part of it entails further tests. Since gallbladder disease is often seen alongside liver disease, liver function tests are an important component of the investigative process. You will be instructed to stop drugs that are likely to increase your risk of bleeding. Such may include aspirin, blood thinners and nicotine (from tobacco).
The abdomen is usually opened using three small incisions (ports). These are used to insert the surgical instruments as well as the camera (laparoscope). Images from the camera are transmitted onto a monitor in the operating room and this guides the surgeon through the entire operation. The ports are also used to introduce a small amount of carbon dioxide gas into the abdominal cavity so as to make individual organs more distinct and accessible.
General anesthesia is usually used for this kind of surgery. With this anesthesia, one sleeps during the entire surgery and reversal only happens after it has been completed. The average time required is about two hours. Your bile should flow normally as soon as the procedure has been completed. In case, the gallbladder is removed, the storage of bile may be affected but this has very little effect on the process of digestion if at all.
There are a number of possible complications associated with this operation. They include bleeding, infections and injury to vital structures. In about 5% of procedures there is a need to switch from the laparoscopic to the open procedure due to complications. Common reasons as to why this may be necessary include, extensive inflammation and the presence of scar tissue that makes access to the gallbladder difficult.
Laparoscopy has several advantages over the open technique. One of the advantages is the fact that the surgical cuts are smaller hence the scars that are formed later on are less conspicuous. The smaller incisions also results in less bleeding and less pain. Perhaps the most important is the fact that the recovery time is significantly shortened.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery can be done in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Since general anesthesia is usually used, most surgeons prefer that the procedure be carried out in an inpatient facility where observations can be carried out over one or two days. You can resume your normal activities in seven to ten days. There is no need for a special diet during the recovery period.
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