Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Gallstones

The gallbladder is a part of the biliary system which also consists of the liver and the pancreas. It aids in the synthesizing of fats and helps to increase the potency of the bile, which contributes greatly to proper digestion and assimilation. But the bile can also be responsible for gallstone formation in the gall bladder which can cause immense discomfort to the patient. Gallbladder stones are of two types – asymptomatic, which does not need medical intervention while the other gives off a sharp colicky pain. This pain is called biliary colic and is a sharp, intense pain that lasts anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. This pain is felt in the mid portion of the abdomen and above the navel with the pain shooting towards the shoulder blade. This pain is dull and the patient continues to have this pain even after going to the toilet or being sick. Fatty foods trigger this pain and it can be severe enough to keep the patient awake at night

What is laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of the gall bladder, also called a cholecystectomy, is the treatment of choice for patients who have gallstones. The gallstones have the potential to cause unpleasant inflammatory complications like cholecystitis and infection secondary to bacterial organisms. Once the gallbladder is removed, the patient has no recurrence of this problem. The most common surgery done to remove the gallbladder is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The procedure includes inserting a laparoscope, which helps the surgeon to see the gallbladder and by using the accompanying surgical implements, the gall bladder is excised, removed, and sent for biopsy

Advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred option for surgery because it decreases any postoperative pain and the need for postoperative medication is lessened. The patient also spends less time in hospital. The hospital stay is cut down from a week to less than 24 hours. There is an added advantage in that the patient is able to resume his routine activities of daily living within a couple of days of surgery compared to the 1-month recuperation period required for an open cholecystectomy. There is also a better cosmetic result because there is less scarring compared to an open access procedure

There are other procedures available to treat gallstones. One of these procedures called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, leaves the gallbladder intact and just helps in removal of the stones. In this procedure an acoustic pulse is used to pulverize the stone to small pieces to enable the body to flush out the stone through urine. However, this procedure carries some risks and there is a chance for the stones to recur

Diet after cholecystectomy

Dietary modification is a must for a patient who has undergone cholecystectomy. This is because in a normal individual the bile which is secreted by the liver is stored in the gallbladder. When an individual eats fatty foods, the bile is released to help in the digestion and absorption of the fat. When the gallbladder removal happens, the bile is directly released into the small intestine and causes formation of excess bile salts in the small intestine and these bile salts reach the colon and irritate it and will cause severe diarrhea. Thus it would be a good idea for a person with excised gallbladder to reduce or avoid the consumption of fatty foods

After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patient should try eat smaller meals and abstain from taking foods rich in fat. The food should be either baked or steamed. Fried and processed foods should be strictly out of bounds for the patient. The ideal foods suitable that can be included in the menu of an individual who has undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy are; fruits, yogurt, fish, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, etc. Foods like red meat, milk products, refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated oils, caffeine, etc. should be completely avoided