If you have frequent gallstone attacks, nausea, or severe upper abdomen or back pain, you might need gallbladder surgery.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove the gallbladder. This small organ located beneath your liver stores bile, a digestive fluid that the liver produces and that helps break down fats.
While the gallbladder plays a role in digestion, it’s not essential for survival, meaning you can live a normal, healthy life without it.
At Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery in Snellville, Georgia, led by bariatric and general surgeon Dr. Aliu O. Sanni, you can rely on our expertise to know when it’s time to consider surgery. Here, we explain why it might be necessary and when.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is most commonly performed to treat gallstones, which are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder. Gallstones cause a range of symptoms, including:
Often felt in the upper right abdomen or center of your stomach, this pain can be sudden and severe, lasting from minutes to hours.
Gallstones can lead to digestive disturbances, including nausea, vomiting, and bloating, especially after eating fatty foods.
If a gallstone blocks one of the bile ducts, it can cause a buildup of bile in the liver, leading to jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes.
In some cases, gallstones can lead to complications such as gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or bile duct infections. These conditions often require immediate treatment and, in many cases, surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Unlike traditional open surgery, which requires a large incision, laparoscopic surgery involves making 3-4 small incisions in the abdomen.
Through these incisions, Dr. Sanni inserts a laparoscope (a long, thin tube with a camera on the end) and surgical instruments. The camera projects images onto a monitor, giving him a clear view of the gallbladder and surrounding area.
Dr. Sanni then uses the instruments to detach the gallbladder from the liver and bile ducts. Once he frees your gallbladder, he removes it through one of the small incisions.
After the procedure, Dr. Sanni closes the incisions with sutures and/or surgical glue. You experience less pain and a quicker recovery than you would with open surgery.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery offers many benefits compared with traditional open surgery. Some of these benefits include:
The smaller incisions result in less postoperative pain.
Most patients can go home the same day or the next and return to normal activities within a week.
The surgery's minimally invasive approach lowers the risk of infection and other complications.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of gallstones or have been diagnosed with a related condition, we may recommend laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Discuss your symptoms, medical history, and concerns with us so we can determine the best course of action for your situation. Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery has a high success rate, helping patients return to a pain-free, healthy life.
We’re here to answer your questions. Book an appointment today by calling 770-559-0778 or book online anytime, day or night.
