Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Minimally invasive surgical technique to treat cholelithiasis
Cholecystectomy is one of the most common abdominal surgeries and in the majority of cases it is performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the method of choice for the surgical treatment of gallstones and the symptoms and complications it may cause, which is applied with excellent success rates by General Surgeons in Athens.
Cholelithiasis or gallstones are caused by the formation of small solid formations in the gallbladder that can form as a result of an imbalance in the substances that make up the bile. The gallbladder is a small organ located just below the liver that collects bile. Bile is a digestive fluid responsible for breaking down fats that is released in the small intestine.
What complications can cholelithiasis cause?
Gallstones often cause no symptoms and the patient may be unaware of their existence, but occasionally they can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder or pancreas. Complications of the condition are the blockage of the bile duct (choledolithiasis), inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) or the pancreas (acute pancreatitis). This can cause symptoms such as sudden and severe abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin and white area of the eyes (jaundice), nausea and fever. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most effective treatment in the vast majority of cases.
Surgical removal of the gallbladder does not affect the ability to digest food. Patients can live without the gallbladder, since after surgery, bile flows directly from the liver to the small intestine. There are two surgical techniques for removing the gallbladder, open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Both operations are performed after general anesthesia is administered to the patient.
During open cholecystectomy, a large incision is made to gain access to the gallbladder and then successfully remove it. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves making four small incisions in the abdomen. A long, narrow tube-like instrument is inserted into the abdomen through one of the incisions. This instrument has a tiny video camera and a light source at its end.
This camera transfers the image of the inside of the abdomen to a high-definition screen, from which the surgeon monitors his manipulations. At the same time, surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions in the abdomen, which allow the gallbladder to be detached and removed through one of the incisions. The incisions are then closed with stitches.
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients are often able to go home the same day, although an overnight stay in the hospital is sometimes required. In general, the patient is discharged as soon as they are able to eat and drink without pain and walk without assistance. Full recovery is usually achieved after one week, and return to most daily activities occurs within 2 weeks.
What are the benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
The laparoscopic surgical technique for the removal of the gallbladder offers significant advantages to the patient, as it initially minimizes the required hospitalization and recovery time. At the same time, postoperative pain and possible complications are significantly reduced, as the incisions are very small. Also, the aesthetic result is clearly superior compared to open surgery. In some cases the surgeon may start with a laparoscopic approach and find it necessary to make a larger incision due to scar tissue from previous operations or complications.
