At Monterrey Bariatric Center a cholecystectomy is surgery to remove your gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ under your liver. It’s on the upper right side of your belly (abdomen). The gallbladder stores a digestive juice called bile that is made in the liver.
According to Dr. Jesus Abraham Vega a cholecystectomy is a common surgery. It is a safe operation and usually carries only a small risk of complications. In most people this surgery is done using small incisions, and you can go home the same day of your cholecystectomy.
A gallbladder removal is usually done by inserting a tiny video camera and special tools through several small incisions to see inside your abdomen and remove the gallbladder. This is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
In some cases, one large incision may be used to remove the gallbladder. This is called an open cholecystectomy and requires a longer hospital stay and recovery.
Why it’s done
A cholecystectomy is most often used to treat gallstones and the complications they cause.
Dr. Jesus Abraham Vega may recommend a cholecystectomy if you have:
- Gallstones in the gallbladder that are causing symptoms, called cholelithiasis.
- Gallstones in the bile duct, called choledocholithiasis.
- Gallbladder inflammation, called cholecystitis.
- Large gallbladder polyps, which can turn cancerous.
- Pancreas inflammation, called pancreatitis, from gallstones.
- Concern for cancer of the gallbladder.
How you prepare
To prepare for a gallbladder removal, Dr. Vega may ask you to:
- Eat nothing the night before your surgery. You may drink a sip of water with your medicines, but avoid eating and drinking at least four hours before your surgery.
- Stop taking certain medicines and supplements. Tell your health care team about all the medicines and supplements you take. Continue taking most medicines as prescribed. Your team may ask you to stop taking certain medicines and supplements because they may increase your risk of bleeding.
What you can expect
A cholecystectomy is performed using general anesthesia. This means you won’t be awake during the procedure. Anesthesia medicines are given through a vein in your arm. Once the medicines take effect, Dr. Sergio Lara Gonzalez will place a tube down your throat to help you breathe. Your surgeon then performs the cholecystectomy using either a laparoscopic or open procedure.
Depending on your situation, Dr. Jesus Abraham Vega will use one of two surgical approaches:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
During a laparoscopic gallbladder removal, Dr. Vega makes small incisions in your abdomen. A tube with a tiny video camera is placed in your abdomen through one of the incisions. Dr. Vega watches a video monitor in the operating room while using tools inserted through the other incisions to remove your gallbladder.
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy isn’t right for everyone. Sometimes your surgeon may begin with laparoscopic surgery and find it necessary to make a larger incision. This may be because of scar tissue from previous surgeries or complications.
Open cholecystectomy
During an open cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes a 6-inch, or 15-centimeter, incision in your abdomen below your ribs on your right side. The muscle and tissue are pulled back to reveal your liver and gallbladder. Your surgeon then removes the gallbladder.
The incision is closed, and you’re taken to a recovery area. An open cholecystectomy takes 1 to 2 hours.
Results
A gallbladder removal can relieve the pain and discomfort of gallstones. Conservative treatments, such as a change in diet, usually can’t stop gallstones from coming back. In most people, a cholecystectomy will prevent gallstones from returning.
How quickly you can return to usual activities after a cholecystectomy depends on which procedure your surgeon uses and your overall health. People having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be able to go back to work in 1 to 2 weeks. Those having an open cholecystectomy may need a few weeks to recover enough to return to work.