What is Cholecystectomy?
Cholecystectomy involves the surgical removal of the
gallbladder. Although newer, less-invasive techniques are
available, Cholecystectomy remains to be the most common
means of treating symptomatic gallstones.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is now the first choice of
treatment for gallstones replacing Open Cholecystectomy.
Sometimes the Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is converted to
an Open Cholecystectomy for safety or technical reasons.
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Effects of Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy is done to treat cholelithiasis and
cholecystitis. In cholelithiasis, varying sizes and shapes
of gallstones are formed from the solid components of bile.
The presence of gallstones may produce excruciating pain in
the upper right abdominal area going to the right shoulder.
The gallbladder then becomes the site of acute infection
and inflammation causing upper right abdominal pain, nausea
and vomiting, which is referred to as cholecystitis.
Basically, Cholecystectomy is the best answer to this
disease.
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Candidates for Cholecystectomy
Candidates for Cholecystectomy are those suffering from
gallstones, infection or inflammation, gallbladder cancer,
severe abdominal pain due to biliary colic, and blockage of
the drainage tubes due to bile.
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Your
Consultation
During consultation, you will be asked to sign a consent
form right after the whole procedure is explained. You are
not to eat or drink from midnight of the day of the
procedure, and enema may be ordered to clean out the bowel.
A suction tube may be used to empty the stomach if nausea
or vomiting is present. A urinary drainage catheter will
also be used to lessen the risk of accidental puncture of
the stomach or bladder during the insertion of the trocar,
which is a sharp-pointed instrument, for laparoscopic
procedures.
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The Cholecystectomy
Procedure
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy begins by making several small
incisions in the abdomen to allow the insertion of surgical
instruments and a small video camera. The camera sends a
magnified image from inside the body to a video monitor
which gives the surgeon a close-up view of the organs and
tissues. As the surgeon watches the monitor, he does the
operation by manipulating the surgical instruments through
the separate small incisions. Once the gallbladder is
identified, it is then carefully separated from the liver
and other organs. The cystic duct and cystic artery are
then clipped with titanium clips and then cut. The
gallbladder is removed through one of the small incisions.
A Cholecystectomy can be quite meticulous but is usually
over in an hour.
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Recovery
During recovery from a Cholecystectomy procedure, the
patient’s blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and
temperature are monitored. The patient may have hard time
breathing deeply due to pain, and the effect of the
anesthesia may cause breathing to be shallow. During this
time, the patient is shown how to support the operative site
when breathing deeply and coughing, and pain medication is
given when needed. Intake of fluids and outputs is then
measured, and the operative site is checked for color and
amount of wound drainage. The patient is given fluids
intravenously for 1 to 2 days until bowel activity resumes.
The patient is encouraged to stand and walk 8 hours after
the Cholecystectomy and discharged from the hospital within
3 to 5 days.
Patients are advised to gradually resume normal activities
after 3 days. Avoid heavy lifting for about 10 days.
Patients can return to work approximately 4 to 6 weeks after
the procedure.
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Risks
Cholecystectomy runs the risk of having respiratory
problems due to the location of the incision, wound
infection, or abscess formation; having accidental punctures
of the bowel or bladder, and uncontrolled bleeding; and
finally, irritation of the muscles due to the incomplete
re-absorption of the carbon dioxide gas.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q:
What is a Cholecystectomy?
A:
Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Although newer, less-invasive techniques have been
developed, Cholecystectomy remains to be the most common
means of treating symptomatic gallstones.
Q:
What are the benefits of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?
A:
Since Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy does not require the
abdominal muscle to be cut, it is less painful, quicker to
heal and has fewer complications. Patients who have
undergone Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy can be discharged on
the same or following day as the procedure, and can go back
to their jobs in about a week.
Q:
What happens during a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?
A:
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy begins by making several small
incisions in the abdomen to allow the insertion of surgical
instruments and a small video camera. The camera sends a
magnified image from inside the body to a video monitor
which gives the surgeon a close-up view of the organs and
tissues. As the surgeon watches the monitor, he does the
operation by manipulating the surgical instruments through
the separate small incisions. Once the gallbladder is
identified, it is then carefully separated from the liver
and other organs. The cystic duct and cystic artery are
then clipped with titanium clips and then cut. The
gallbladder is removed through one of the small incisions.
A Cholecystectomy can be quite meticulous but is usually
over in an hour.
Q:
What should I expect after a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?
A:
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy only requires the patient to
stay in the hospital for a short while after the procedure.
The patient can go home in the same or following day of the
procedure. Recovery period is also short and yet the
outcome is good, relieving 90 percent of the symptoms found
before undergoing the procedure.
Q:
What are the aftercare guidelines for the Cholecystectomy?
A:
Care for patients who have undergone Laparoscopic
Cholecystectomy is similar to that of any patient who went
through surgery with general anesthesia. Walking and a bit
of exercise are suggested. Patients are advised to
gradually resume normal activities after 3 days. Avoid
heavy lifting for about 10 days. Patients can return to
work approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
Q:
What are the risks involved in this surgery?
A:
Cholecystectomy runs the risk of having respiratory problems
due to the location of the incision, wound infection, or
abscess formation; having accidental punctures of the bowel
or bladder, and uncontrolled bleeding; and finally,
irritation of the muscles due to the incomplete
re-absorption of the carbon dioxide gas.
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