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 instestines 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.

Your Procedure:

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All of the instruments are withdrawn ...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.