Mansfield Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder removal procedure

One of the most common surgical procedures performed by surgeons at Surgical
Associates of Mansfield - and across the nation - is gallbladder removal
surgery. This is a minimally-invasive procedure that is known as a cholecystectomy
and it is used to treat symptomatic gallstones. We are able to perform
this type of surgery either single-site robotically or laparoscopically.
Many people do not fully understand what the gallbladder does, or what
gallstones are.

These are very common questions we field and we encourage patients to speak
up if they are unsure about any information our surgeons are relaying.
It is our intention to ensure you understand the cause of your discomfort
as well as your treatment options. Surgery is not always required when
suffering from gallbladder issues, but it is very common.

About the Gallbladder and Gallstones

To be clear, the gallbladder is an important organ in the body that stores
bile. Bile is important in that it is the substance that helps our body
digest food in the intestine. There are several different types of gallbladder
disorders that may cause medical issues, discomfort, and pain. The majority
of gallbladder disorders stem from gallstones. Gallstones are tiny, hard
balls of bile that can clog your system and stop the flow of bile to and
from the liver and intestines.

When this happens, the patient may experience a wide range of symptoms,
including:

• Abdominal pain in the center of the abdomen or just under the ribs on the
  right side
• Fever
• Persistent pain
• Increased heartbeat
• Itchy skin
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Confusion or mental fog
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

There is no specific reason that we know of as to why gallstones occur.
However, there are certain risk factors that may contribute to an individual’s
risk of forming gallstones, including being female, prior to pregnancy,
over the age of 40, and being overweight. It is also important to keep
in mind that gallstones are more common in older adults and may be genetic.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent gallstones, but surgery can
correct the problem almost immediately.

In most cases, gallbladder problems such as gallstones are found using
an ultrasound. In more complex cases, your physician may use an X-ray
test, CT scan, or gallbladder nuclear medicine scan to determine if there
is a problem with your gallbladder. While gallbladder problems like gallstones
do not go away on their own, your doctor may have suggestions for temporary
management, such as reducing your fat intake. As a patient’s symptoms
worsen, surgery may be the only real solution.

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, a condition that can
turn deadly if left untreated. Cholecystitis occurs when the gallstones
block the entrance of the gallbladder, resulting in the bile to build
up and the gallbladder to become swollen. Someone with cholecystitis is
in need of emergency surgery in order to avoid life-threatening complications,
such as a gallbladder rupture. We perform this surgery by single-site
robotically or laparoscopically.

There are two types of cholecystitis:

• Acute cholecystitis – This is the sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that shows up as severe
  abdominal pain along with nausea, vomiting, and fever, in some patients
• Chronic cholecystitis – This is a less serious version of the condition and is marked by a lower
  intensity inflammation that lasts a long period of time. Some patients
  may experience repeated acute attacks of cholecystitis with symptoms such
  as mild abdominal pain, or no symptoms whatsoever. Patients suffering
  from chronic cholecystitis will sustain damage to the walls of the gallbladder
  over time, resulting in a thickened, scarred organ. Eventually, the gallbladder
  will decrease in size and lose its ability to hold and release bile

What Can I Expect?

As mentioned, gallbladder surgery is quite common and is relatively straightforward.
Using small incisions, a telescoping camera, and specialized instruments,
the gallbladder is separated from any surrounding parts, including the
bile ducts, intestines, blood vessels, and liver. The gallbladder is then
removed through a small incision in the belly button. Because of how minimally-invasive
this procedure is, most patients can go home the same day of the surgery
and begin the recovery period.

Traditionally, a cholecystectomy through an open incision has been performed
in the setting of more complex gallbladder disease. However, our robotically
trained surgeons have the expertise to perform even the most difficult
cholecystectomy through a minimally invasive approach. Your surgeon will
be sure to discuss your options with you, making sure you understand the
risks and recovery stipulations.

If you have any questions about gallbladder removal surgery, gallstones,
or any other gallbladder conditions, please do not hesitate to
contact Surgical Associates of Mansfield.