Gallbladder Surgery

The Gallbladder is a sac found attached to the liver, whose function is to store bile and release it to the bowel as we eat. Gallstones can form inside the gallbladder. A gallstone is a lump of hard material ranging in size from a grain of sand to about 4 centimeters.

Who is at risk of developing gallstones?

If your liver produces bile with too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or inadequate amounts of bile salts, gallstones tend to develop.
Risk factors for gallstones include:

A poorly emptying gallbladder
Being a woman age 20-60
Obesity
Excess estrogen from pregnancy or birth control pills
Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs
Diabetes
Rapid weight los

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Gallstones don’t always present with symptoms, but when they do, you may experience serious pain in your upper abdomen. Other symptoms include:

Abdominal bloating
Recurring intolerance of fatty foods
Steady pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
Pain under the right shoulder
Nausea or vomiting
Indigestion and belching

How are gallstones diagnosed?

Gallstones are usually diagnosed with ultrasound. Sometimes other tests are needed, such as MRI or CT scans.

How is gallbladder surgery performed?

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most common way to treat symptomatic gallstones. The surgery is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Several tiny incisions are made in the abdomen to insert surgical instruments and a miniature video camera. The camera sends a magnified image from inside the body to a screen, giving a close-up view of the organs. While watching the screen, the surgeon uses specialized instruments to carefully separate the gallbladder from the liver, bile ducts, and other structures.