Useful Information Concerning Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Houston Patients Need To Have

By Jeffrey Wilson


The gall bladder is a small tubular organ that is found adjacent to the liver. Its main function is to store and concentrate bile juice, an important chemical for the digestive process. Conditions affecting the organ such as the presence of bile stones often require surgical intervention. If they have been scheduled to undergo laparoscopic gallbladder surgery Houston patients need to know a number of things about the procedure.

Before a decision to be operated is made, you will need to visit your doctor for a comprehensive evaluation. This process will include the taking of a medical history on the condition as well as undergoing a physical examination. Symptoms that suggest the diagnosis of gall bladder stones include pain (especially in the right, upper abdominal region), nausea and vomiting.

Before undergoing surgery you need to undergo some form of preparation. The first step in the preparation process is to undergo comprehensive evaluation by the doctor so as to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor will take a history of your problem and then conduct a physical examination. Symptoms of gall bladder disease include pain in the upper right area of the abdomen, indigestion, nausea and vomiting.

Your doctor may request some tests to help them make a diagnosis. Ultrasound scans are among the most effective modalities in diagnosing gall stones. If other problems are suspected as well, additional investigations will be required. These may include, for instance, radionuclide images, CT scans and X-rays. Dietary changes are sometimes recommended to provide symptomatic relief but it should be noted that surgical intervention is the only definitive management of gall bladder stones.

Risks associated with this operation are not only few but very rare as well. They include, for example, pain, diarrhea, bloating, internal bleeding, allergic reaction to anesthetic drugs, injury to structures such as the common bile duct and the intestines and infections (after the operation). In very rare circumstances, the liver and major blood vessels may also be injured or the bile may leak into the abdominal cavity.

The small size of incisions used in this procedures allows patients to leave the hospital earlier than is the case with the open technique. In most cases, patients are allowed home on the same day. In contrast, an average of three days of admission are required when the open technique is used. Another major advantage is the fact that one can resume work after about a week which is a lot less than the four weeks recommended for the open surgery.

Due to the small size of the incisions used, hospital stay has been markedly shorted. Laparoscopic gall bladder surgery is regarded a day case in most centers. The patient can be allowed to go home as soon as they recover from the effects of the anesthesia which is usually one the same day that they undergo surgery. In the open procedure, they are retained for two to four days. Resumption of the normal routine is usually after one week.

Removing gall stones using laparoscopic techniques has completely replaced the traditional open surgical approach in many places in the world. This is mainly due to its short turnaround time and the fewer risks associated with it. Any individual with the problem of gall stones can benefit with very few exceptions.




About the Author: