Your gallbladder is part of your digestive system, but it’s an organ you can live without. When you have gallbladder disease, you may need gallbladder surgery. Surgical Clinic, PC in Auburn & Opelika, Alabama, is a state-of-the-art practice that uses general and laparoscopic surgery to treat a wide range of needs. The team performs gallbladder surgery using the most advanced tools and techniques. To learn more about gallbladder surgery, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac located under your liver. Its primary job is to collect and store bile. Bile is a substance that helps with the digestion of fat in the small intestine.
Your gallbladder delivers bile to the small intestine through bile ducts when food is present. Unfortunately, many conditions may affect the structure and function of the gallbladder. These conditions can cause abdominal pain that worsens over time.
You may need gallbladder surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, if you have a problem with your gallbladder. Types of gallbladder diseases that benefit from surgery include:
Any of these conditions may cause abdominal pain, especially after meals. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The team at Surgical Clinic, PC conducts a thorough examination when you come in for a gallbladder surgery consultation.
The Surgical Clinic, PC team may perform gallbladder surgery using traditional open techniques or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques.
Your surgeon at Surgical Clinic, PC may recommend a traditional open surgery if your gallbladder is severely inflamed, infected, or scarred. During this procedure, your surgeon makes an incision through the skin, muscle, and fat to gain access to your gallbladder.
They remove the organ and close your incisions.
Traditional open surgery is an invasive procedure and you may need to spend time in a hospital during your initial recovery. You should be able to resume most of your usual activities about a month after this procedure.
The Surgical Clinic, PC team most often performs laparoscopic surgery when removing a gallbladder.
During this procedure, your surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen and inserts a laparoscope — a thin tube with a light and camera that allows your surgeon to see your organs on a computer monitor.
They inflate the abdominal cavity with carbon dioxide gas to improve visibility, remove your diseased gallbladder, and close your incisions. This procedure takes 1-2 hours.
The team sends you to the recovery room and discharges you the same day. You should be able to resume most of your usual activities in about a week following laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Find out more about gallbladder surgery by calling Surgical Clinic, PC or scheduling an appointment online today.