Your doctor has recommended the removal of your gallbladder.
But what does that actually mean? The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver.
It's function is to store bile used by the intestines to digest food.
Gallstones - small calcified deposits - sometimes form and block the bile ducts which lead from
the gallbladder to the intestines.
In many cases, the problem becomes so severe, that the only effective treatment is to remove
the entire gallbladder.
This is the most common reason for gallbladder surgery.
Other reasons for removing the gallbladder include chronic or severe infection or the
growth of a tumor.
Surgical procedures performed by making an incision large enough to expose the entire
operative area are called "open" procedures.
Your doctor believes that your medical condition and overall state of health make you a good
candidate for less intrusive laparoscopic surgery.
A laparoscope is a narrow tube that contains a light source and a small video camera.
Using a laparoscope the surgeon is able to operate by making one or more very small incisions
through which the sterile laparoscope, and possibly other instruments, are inserted into
the body.
Using the laparoscope's video camera, the surgeon is able to explore and inspect the
interior of the abdomen - often allowing the surgeon to see with greater detail and with
more clarity than with the human eye alone.
However, it is important to understand that during the procedure, your surgical team is
always prepared to convert a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure - should they
feel that your condition requires a more direct approach.
If the surgical team makes this decision, you will find upon waking up that your doctor
has made a larger incision and that healing may proceed more slowly.
Converting to an open procedure will effect the length of your recovery and will probably
require hospitalization.
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
In the operating room, a nurse will begin preparation by clipping or shaving the abdomen.
The anesthesiologist will begin to administer anesthesia - most probably general anesthesia.
The surgeon will then apply antiseptic solution to the skin around the area where the incisions
will be made, place a sterile drape around the operative site.
After allowing a few minutes for the anesthetic to take effect a small incision is made above
the umbilicus; then, a hollow needle will be inserted through the abdominal wall.
And the abdomen will be inflated with carbon dioxide.
An imblical port is created for the laparoscope.
Three more incisions will be made, with care taken to keep the openings as small as possible.
Once in place, the laparoscope will provide video images that allow the surgeon to locate
and pull back both the liver and gallbladder.
.
Next, the surgeon removes the connecting tissue in order to expose the cystic duct and the
cystic artery.
Using clips, the surgical teams clamps off both the duct and artery which are later cut
to prepare the gallbladder for removal.
Finally, any remaining tissue connecting the gallbladder to the liver is cut.
The gallbladders is moved into the laparoscopic working port where it is taken out of the
body.
All of the instruments are withdrawn the carbon dioxide is allowed to escape the muscle layers
and other tissues are sewn together, and the skin is closed with sutures or staples.
Finally, sterile dressings are applied.