What is the gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a small organ near your liver. Its primary purpose is to collect and store bile. Bile is a digestive substance that helps your body break down fat from the food you eat.
Though you only have one gallbladder, you can survive without it. After gallbladder surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, your liver takes over the function of the gallbladder.
Who needs gallbladder surgery?
Most people need gallbladder surgery because they have gallstones that cause complications. Gallstones fill-up the gallbladder and block the bile ducts, causing inflammation and pain. Over time, the obstruction may lead to an infection.
You may also need gallbladder surgery if you have pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) because of your gallstones.
Gil Q. Galloway, M.D., Inc. is a state-of-the-art general surgery practice. The team of surgeons specializes in gallbladder surgery.
What happens during gallbladder surgery?
Your surgeon customizes your gallbladder surgery plan to match your needs. For most patients, the team performs a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is a minimally invasive surgery for the removal of the gallbladder.
Your surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen and inserts a laparoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera. The laparoscope transmits images of your gallbladder onto a computer monitor that your surgeon uses to guide your surgery.
They make a few additional small incisions to insert the surgical tools they need to remove your gallbladder.
Most patients go home the same day of their laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
During a traditional open surgery, the surgeon makes a large incision through your abdominal wall to gain access to and remove your gallbladder. You may need to remain in the hospital for up to three days following open gallbladder surgery.
How long is recovery following gallbladder surgery?
Recovery following laparoscopic gallbladder surgery varies. However, if you have no complications, you should be able to drive and eat your usual diet within a day or two and be back at work within a week. But you need to avoid heavy lifting for about two weeks.
For a traditional open cholecystectomy, recovery may take 4-6 weeks.
To schedule a gallbladder surgery consultation at the office of Gil Q. Galloway, M.D., Inc., call or book online today.
