Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Explained

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common procedure for removing the gallbladder when gallstones cause symptoms. It’s a minimally invasive surgery that uses small incisions and is often preferred due to its quicker recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.

How Is It Done?

1. Small Incisions: The surgeon makes four tiny incisions (5-10mm) in your abdomen.

2. Camera and Instruments: A laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera) is inserted through one incision to give the surgeon a clear view of your gallbladder on a screen. Through the other incisions, small surgical tools are inserted.

3. Gallbladder Removal: The gallbladder is carefully detached from its connections to the liver and bile duct. The surgeon removes the gallbladder through one of the small incisions.

4. Closing the Incisions: The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches, and the procedure usually takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Recovery

  • Most patients go home the same day and can resume normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks.

  • You may experience some shoulder pain from the gas used to inflate your abdomen, but this should resolve within a day.

Benefits

  • Smaller scars

  • Shorter hospital stay

  • Faster recovery time

This approach is highly effective, and most people experience relief from gallstone-related symptoms once the gallbladder is removed.

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Risks of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

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Gallstones: An Overview