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Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - What is it for

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that lies beneath your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. It stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by your liver. The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine to digest fat at meal times. If the gallbladder is removed, bile will continue to be produced by the liver and flow directly into the small intestine.

Gallbladder

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Symptoms

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - How to prevent?

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Causes and Risk Factors

What causes gallstones?
Gallstones are small stone-like substances that develop when the amount of bile and other fluids stored in the gallbladder become unbalanced and harden.


Who gets gallstones?
  • Women in their middle ages
  • Overweight individuals
  • People with a family history of gallstones
Asians are more prone to develop gallstones compared to patients in the west.
Additionally, many with gallstone disease have no obvious risk factors.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Diagnosis

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Treatments

Some gallstones cause pain, bloating, infection and blockage of the flow of bile. If there is severe pain, infection or other complications, your doctor will likely recommend that you have your gallbladder removed in a common operation called cholecystectomy since it is a non-essential organ. If gallstones are found incidentally with no symptoms, they can be observed and surgery is generally not recommended.


The standard form of treatment is minimally invasive surgery known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in which our surgeon makes four small incisions in your abdomen to remove the gallbladder. However, certain scenarios or conditions may make open surgery (incision about 8cm) necessary or a safer and better choice.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be performed before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy if stones are found in the bile duct.

Advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Compared to open surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers these advantages:
  • Shorter recovery time.
  • Shorter hospital stay.
  • Less post-operative pain.
  • Minimal scarring.
The overall risk of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is very low. Although uncommon, the more serious possible complications include:
  • Bleeding.
  • Bowel injury.
  • Infection.
  • Bile duct injury

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy


Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Preparing for surgery

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Post-surgery care

After you wake up from anaesthesia, you will be observed for a few hours. You will be allowed to drink fluids or have a light meal. On the day following surgery, you should be able to resume your usual diet and move around.
Depending how you feel, you may be discharged the day after surgery. Day surgery patients may be discharged on the same day. Rest at home for 1 – 2 weeks and avoid fatty food immediately and lifting heavy loads after surgery. You will be given a follow-up appointment with your surgeon in about 1-2 weeks.

Pain Management
Recovery after laparoscopic surgery is faster and less painful as compared to open surgery. Oral pain medication will be prescribed and no removal of stitches is required.


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