Dr. Sowemimo discusses minimally invasive gallbladder surgery
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery―
faster recovery, less pain and scarring
You probably know someone who has undergone emergency gallbladder removal as a result of gallstones. It’s not uncommon― almost a million gallbladder removal surgeries are performed each year in the U.S. alone. Like more and more surgical procedures today, nearly all gallbladder surgeries are performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
Gallbladder and Gallstones
The gallbladder is a small sac located under the liver that stores bile produced by the liver. When you eat, it releases the bile into the small intestine to help digest fats. While this helps in digestion, the gallbladder is considered “non-vital”―you can live a healthy life without it.
Gallstones are hard “pebbles” that form in the bile which can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Gallstones can block ducts resulting in inflammation and often intense pain.
Symptoms
Gallstones may cause no signs or symptoms. Or, you may feel a sudden intense cramping pain in the upper right or center of your stomach, back pain between the shoulder blades or pain in your right shoulder. The pain may go away as the gallstones move but may last several minutes to a few hours. If a duct is blocked, the gallbladder can become infected and rupture. As a result, the gallbladder needs to be removed immediately.
Less Invasive Surgical Solution
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is performed by a specially trained surgeon who inserts a lighted viewing instrument (laparoscope) and surgical tools into the abdomen through several small incisions. This type of surgery is very safe and patients are usually back to their regular routines in a week or so. The procedure can also be performed on an outpatient basis so you can recover in the comfort of your own home.
Most importantly, should you experience any of the symptoms above, contact your personal physician immediately. Otherwise, the pain may only intensify and the gallbladder can rupture, leading to a medical emergency. To learn more, please click on my video “Gallbladder” on the Prime Surgicare homepage or call my office at (732) 637-6370.
