Gallbladder Stone Laparoscopic Surgery – Heritage Hospitals

It is the most common surgery performed to remove gallbladder stones along with the gallbladder from the patient’s body. A tiny camera and special surgical tools are inserted into the abdomen and then gallbladder stones along with the gallbladder are removed.

This is the minimally invasive surgery done to remove the gallbladder from the patient’s body before it starts causing problems.

One of the known Hospitals of Varanasi, The Heritage Hospital offers the best Gallbladder Stone Laparoscopic Surgery to people in India. The Doctors at Heritage Hospitals are the best at what they do. The General and Laparoscopic Department has full-time consultants so that no patient has to wait too much.

The department is also well-equipped with modular operation theatres with the latest Sterilization techniques including HEPA filters resulting in almost no risk of infection, Critical Care, and Diagnostic facilities. Doctors at Heritage hospital’s foremost priority is to provide the patients with the best treatments they deserve. The department is solely dedicated to General and Laparoscopic Surgeries and covers diseases and conditions like

• Cryosurgery for Piles
• Management of Injuries
• Diseases of the breast, soft tissue tumours
• Patients with Diabetes, Hypertension, Cardiac problems or Renal Diseases who have to undergo any operation and may require Intensive Care after an operation.
• Trauma (Accident)/ Medicolegal Gunshot, Stab Injury
• Surgical Diseases of the Intestines, Gall Bladder, Appendix, Hernia, Hydrosols, Piles, Abscesses, and other infections.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive surgery which is done to remove the Gallbladder. This is done so because the stones in the gallbladder start causing pain, inflammation, and infection. The surgery involves only a few small incisions and takes a few hours to be done.

What does the Heritage Hospital General and Laparoscopic Department offer?

As a patient, you need to know what the General and Laparoscopic Surgery department offers. It has the best facilities and offers

• Daily OPD Consultation (Monday to Saturday)
• 24 X 7 Emergency Consultation
• Diagnostic Facilities
• 24/7 Admission / In-Patient Facilities
• Blood Bank Support
• Critical Care i.e ICU Care for critically ill patients including Mechanical Ventilation.
• Important world-class latest laparoscopic instruments with HD Camera increase success rate by lap operation with minimum complication.
• All operations of the Head & Neck, Chest, Including Breast
• All operations of the Abdomen open & Laparoscopic
• Routine and emergency surgical operations for the above-mentioned conditions
• Open and Laparoscopic Surgery
• Vasectomy ( Male Sterilisation )

What Causes Gallbladder Stones?

Doctors believe that causes of the formation of Gallbladder Stones include-

1. Too much cholesterol in one’s Bile: Under normal circumstances, bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by the Liver. But, if the liver starts excreting Cholesterol more than what can be dissolved by the bile, the excess cholesterol then forms crystals and eventually into stones.
2. Excess Bilirubin present in Bile: Bilirubin is a chemical produced when the body breaks down Red Blood Cells. Under Some circumstances, the liver is forced to make too much bilirubin. These conditions include Liver Cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and certain blood disorders. This excess of Bilirubin results in gallbladder stone formation.
3. The gallbladder doesn’t empty Correctly: If the Gallbladder doesn’t empty correctly or often enough, bile may become very concentrated, resulting in gallbladder stone formation.

Types of Gallbladder Stones

The Gallbladder stones formed in the Gallbladder are of different types. These include:

1. Cholesterol Stones: This is the most common type of Gallbladder stone formed. These usually appear yellow and are mainly composed of undissolved Cholesterol. It may also contain some other components.
2. Pigment Gallstones: These stones are caused due to excess bilirubin and appear to be dark brown or black.

Why Remove Gallbladder instead of Stones?

The gallbladder Surgeon will suggest gallbladder removal if the gallstones cause significant pain and other complications. Other conditions that can cause gallbladder removal include:

1. Biliary Dyskinesia: This is a condition where the gallbladder doesn’t correctly empty the bile because of a defect in its motion. 
2. Pancreatitis: The inflammation of the Pancreas is called Pancreatitis.
3. Cholecystitis: The inflammation of the Gall Bladder is called Cholecystitis.
4. Choledocholithiasis: It is a condition where the gallbladder stones have moved to the bile duct causing a blockage. This blockage doesn’t allow the gallbladder or the rest of the biliary tree to drain.

Your Gallbladder Surgeon recommends gallbladder removal only if it causes severe acute problems or has become a chronic concern. Some symptoms indicative of gallbladder removal include

• Fever
• Nausea
• Bloating 
• Jaundice
• Sharp pain in the right upper portion of your abdomen that can radiate to the middle of one’s abdomen, right shoulder, or back.

What Tests are done before Gallbladder Surgery?

Gallbladder Stones can be detected during a routine abdominal X-Ray, CT Scan, or Abdominal ultrasound that is done for other medical illnesses. Before, the gallbladder surgery various tests need to be run to check your general health, your gallbladder functioning, the presence and location of gallstones, etc. Tests that are necessary to be done before surgery include

1. Abdominal Ultrasound
2. ERCP
3. HIDA Scan
4. Chest X-Ray
5. Bloodwork
6. EKG

Abdominal Ultrasound: It is the most common test run to detect gallstones in the patient’s gallbladder. It is an outpatient procedure which requires that the patient does not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the test. It is a non-invasive and painless procedure with no known side effects and does not involve any kind of radiation. In this test sound waves are sent to the gall bladder region of one’s body and stones can be detected along with their location if the sound waves are bounced back. This test is also helpful in obtaining information about bile ducts and tubes that carry the bile.

ERCP: ERCP is a procedure that combines upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and X-Rays to treat problems concerning bile and pancreatic ducts. The procedure is advised and done in cases where the bile duct is blocked, due to any reason, for example,  stones, cancers, or sutures.

HIDA Scan: It is a study that lets doctors know how well the gallbladder empties. In this test, a radioactive isotope is injected into your veins after which you are scanned approximately an hour later. This a test designed to see how well the gallbladder empties and if there is any blockage in the channel that leads to the small intestine. You are required not to eat or drink anything 4 hours before the test. 

Bloodwork, EKG, and Chest X-Ray: All these tests are a part of a “Pre-Operative” workup. These are done depending on your overall health and your age. Pre-Operative work also includes your health check-up by a physician and you are being interviewed by your anesthesiologist. 

Benefits of Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder removal cures the infection and also stops the pain. It also prevents the recurring of gallstones. If not timely treated gall stones can cause infection and pain, which might increase with time. There are also chances of the gallbladder which may burst. That is life-threatening.

Side Effects of Gall Bladder Removal

It is possible that people feel digestive issues after Gallbladder removal surgery. Some of these Side effects are-

1. Difficulty Digesting Fat: A part of the body is removed and the body may find it difficult to adjust to the new way of digestion. The medicines given post-surgery may also cause indigestion to you. Even though it might not last long but some patients may develop long-term side effects. The long-term effects result from bile leakage into other organs or gallstones left behind during the surgery in the bile duct.
2. Diarrhoea and Flatulence: This is caused due to indigestion. Excess fat or lack of fibre in the diet can cause Diarrhoea or Flatulence. Another cause of loosened stool can be a lack of bile in the intestines to digest fat because of bile leakage.
3. Constipation: Surgery and Anaesthesia can cause short-term Constipation which can be worsened by Dehydration. 
4. Intestinal Injury: Gallbladder removal surgery can cause damage to the intestines which causes cramping. If you have pain beyond a few days, you need to immediately consult your doctor.
5. Jaundice: It followed by fever means yellowing of skin which is caused due to gallstones left in the bile duct. A complete blockage can also lead to infection.

Conclusion

One often thinks, why should I go for gallbladder stone laparoscopic surgery? Well, if the gallbladder stones are left untreated they can cause infection and inflammation. gallstones are of different types and cause different complications. It is essential that one gets it treated before any serious complications. If left untreated, gallstones can cause various serious complications like intestinal injury, jaundice, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions