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.