Our Services / Gallbladder Disease Surgery

What is gallbladder disease surgery?

Gallbladder disease surgery is an effective remedy for gallbladder conditions that don’t improve with other treatments.

The gallbladder is about four inches long, sitting under your liver at the top and right of your abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a liquid that breaks down fats from food. The gallbladder transfers bile into your small intestine via tubes (bile ducts). This helps your body absorb fat-soluble nutrients into the bloodstream.

Dr. Al-Kalla might recommend surgery if you develop severe gallbladder disease. Because your body can manage without the gallbladder, cholecystectomy (removal of the entire organ) is often the best option.

Which conditions can require gallbladder disease surgery?

Common gallbladder diseases include:

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. A series of acute attacks can lead to chronic cholecystitis, which affects gallbladder function.

Gallstones

Gallstones are a common cause of acute cholecystitis. In most instances, they form from hardened cholesterol deposits in the bile. They can be present for years without you knowing. They can cause problems if they pass into the bile ducts.

Common bile duct infection

If the bile ducts become blocked, infection can develop. Prompt treatment can cure the infection; left untreated, it can spread and could prove fatal.

Biliary dyskinesia

Biliary dyskinesia affects your gallbladder’s ability to move bile along the ducts. The bile then backs up, causing swelling, inflammation, and pain. The gallbladder could also become infected.

Perforated gallbladder

If your gallstones aren’t treated, they can tear (perforate) the gallbladder. Untreated perforations can lead to life-threatening abdominal infections.

Gallbladder disease treatment depends on your symptoms and how severely they affect you. Over-the-counter pain medication can help with milder gallbladder pain, but severe attacks often require prescription pain medicine.

Dr. Al-Kalla performs minimally invasive gallbladder surgery when other treatments are unsuitable or ineffective.

What does gallbladder disease surgery involve?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves inserting a tiny camera and special tools into several small incisions. This enables Dr. Al-Kalla to see the organ inside the abdomen and remove it.

He also uses robotic technologies, controlling state-of-the-art robot arms from a surgeon’s console.

Cholecystectomy is a safe operation with few risks. In most patients, Dr. Al-Kalla completes the surgery using minimally invasive techniques so that you can go home the same day. In some cases, he’ll need to make a large incision (open cholecystectomy) that requires an extended hospital stay.

Call Optimal Weight Loss and Surgery Consultants to learn more about gallbladder disease surgery, or schedule a consultation online today.