Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

What is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laparoscope, a thin, lighted tube with a camera, to remove your gallbladder and reduce pain and complications. Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile, made by your liver, needed to help digest fatty foods. However, you can live a healthy life without a gallbladder. 

Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates uses the latest advances in surgical technologies and procedures to ensure a superior outcome. 

Who is a candidate for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

You might be a candidate for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery if you have gallstones that cause pain, infections, or inflammation. Your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history, completes a physical exam, and orders lab tests, imaging procedures, or other diagnostic tests to determine if gallbladder surgery is the right solution for you.

Symptoms of gallstones include fever, bloating, pain in the right side of your abdomen, and nausea. 

How should I prepare for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

Follow your surgeon’s instructions to prepare for gallbladder surgery. Make arrangements for someone to drive you home afterward, avoid taking certain medicines when needed, and don’t eat or drink anything the morning of surgery if asked to. 

What happens during laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

Before the procedure, you receive general anesthesia to make you fall asleep. Your surgeon makes tiny incisions on the right side of your abdomen, uses a laparoscope and surgical tools to remove your gallbladder, and closes the incisions. The procedure often lasts about an hour or two.

What can I expect afterward?

After laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, you can rest for a few hours in a recovery area. Your provider reviews the post-surgery instructions before someone drives you home. You can typically go home the same day as surgery. 

Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until given the OK. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and eat fiber-rich foods. Increase physical activity slowly and walk daily. You can usually return to work about a week after surgery.

Schedule a consultation at Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates by phone or online today to determine if laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is right for you.