Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves the removal of the gallbladder through a laparoscope. The gallbladder typically stores bile produced in the liver until it is needed for digestion. Unfortunately, the gallbladder often develops gallstones.
What is the gallbladder, and when do gallstones form?
The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, the fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fatty foods, which is then released into the small intestine to aid digestion.
Changes in the concentration and composition of bile lead to the formation of hard pieces of bile called gallstones. The risk of developing gallstones increases with age and a high-fat diet.
Gallbladder stones can cause severe symptoms for some individuals, manifesting as recurrent episodes of abdominal pain. The body does not require the gallbladder; therefore, surgical removal is often recommended if painful gallstones appear.
Causes of gallstone formation:
The formation of gallstones is associated with several factors, including:
• Body weight: People who are overweight have a higher incidence of gallstones.
• Diet: A diet high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber promotes the formation of gallstones.
• Gallbladder motility: If the gallbladder emptying is slow, the rate of gallstone formation increases.
• Rapid weight loss: Those who undergo bariatric surgeries may experience increased rates of gallstone formation.
Symptoms of gallstones:
Many patients suffer from gallstones that do not cause symptoms and do not require any surgery. However, if these stones try to pass out of the gallbladder and obstruct its exit, severe pain in the upper abdomen may occur, which is known as colic.
Common symptoms may include the following:
• Pain in the upper abdomen after a high-fat meal, radiating to the back and right shoulder.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the sclera, yellowing of the skin, pale stools, and dark urine).
• Chills and fever.
Symptoms usually last for short periods and often occur after fatty meals that trigger the gallbladder to contract.
Acute cholecystitis:
Occasionally, gallstones may migrate outside the gallbladder and set within the neck of the gallbladder, blocking the normal flow of bile, leading to inflammation and infection of the gallbladder, a condition known as acute cholecystitis and can cause severe and persistent abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting and require hospitalization for cholecystectomy.
Obstructive jaundice:
Obstructive jaundice can be another complication of gallstones. In this case, gallstones exit the gallbladder into the bile duct where they block the outlet of the bile duct. This means that the gallstones prevent the flow of bile secretions into the duodenum. Jaundice is first detected in the eye. Acute jaundice also leads to yellowing of the skin. Once a person experiences one attack of gallstones, they are likely to develop more. It is wise to remove the gallbladder between attacks, as surgery is simpler when there is no acute infection or blockage.
How is laparoscopic cholecystectomy prepared?
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is keen to provide his patients with the most important tips to improve the results and accelerate recovery. Among the most important tips are:
• Stop smoking as it reduces the risk of complications and improves long-term health.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as there is a higher risk of complications if you are overweight.
• Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam may suggest a special diet for two weeks before the procedure to reduce the size of the liver. The liver is a large organ that must be lifted to perform the surgery safely. If it is smaller, the risk of complications such as bleeding is minimized.
• Regular exercise helps prepare for the procedure and aids recovery.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
Cholecystectomy surgery aims to alleviate the patient's pain and enable him to resume a normal diet. This is in addition to preventing the serious complications that gallstones can cause.
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy through several small incisions in the abdomen, where precise surgical instruments are used to access and remove the gallbladder.
What is the gallbladder, and when do gallstones form?
The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, the fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fatty foods, which is then released into the small intestine to aid digestion.
Changes in the concentration and composition of bile lead to the formation of hard pieces of bile called gallstones. The risk of developing gallstones increases with age and a high-fat diet.
Gallbladder stones can cause severe symptoms for some individuals, manifesting as recurrent episodes of abdominal pain. The body does not require the gallbladder; therefore, surgical removal is often recommended if painful gallstones appear.
Causes of gallstone formation:
The formation of gallstones is associated with several factors, including:
• Body weight: People who are overweight have a higher incidence of gallstones.
• Diet: A diet high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber promotes the formation of gallstones.
• Gallbladder motility: If the gallbladder emptying is slow, the rate of gallstone formation increases.
• Rapid weight loss: Those who undergo bariatric surgeries may experience increased rates of gallstone formation.
Symptoms of gallstones:
Many patients suffer from gallstones that do not cause symptoms and do not require any surgery. However, if these stones try to pass out of the gallbladder and obstruct its exit, severe pain in the upper abdomen may occur, which is known as colic.
Common symptoms may include the following:
• Pain in the upper abdomen after a high-fat meal, radiating to the back and right shoulder.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the sclera, yellowing of the skin, pale stools, and dark urine).
• Chills and fever.
Symptoms usually last for short periods and often occur after fatty meals that trigger the gallbladder to contract.
Acute cholecystitis:
Occasionally, gallstones may migrate outside the gallbladder and set within the neck of the gallbladder, blocking the normal flow of bile, leading to inflammation and infection of the gallbladder, a condition known as acute cholecystitis and can cause severe and persistent abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting and require hospitalization for cholecystectomy.
Obstructive jaundice:
Obstructive jaundice can be another complication of gallstones. In this case, gallstones exit the gallbladder into the bile duct where they block the outlet of the bile duct. This means that the gallstones prevent the flow of bile secretions into the duodenum. Jaundice is first detected in the eye. Acute jaundice also leads to yellowing of the skin. Once a person experiences one attack of gallstones, they are likely to develop more. It is wise to remove the gallbladder between attacks, as surgery is simpler when there is no acute infection or blockage.
How is laparoscopic cholecystectomy prepared?
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is keen to provide his patients with the most important tips to improve the results and accelerate recovery. Among the most important tips are:
• Stop smoking as it reduces the risk of complications and improves long-term health.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as there is a higher risk of complications if you are overweight.
• Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam may suggest a special diet for two weeks before the procedure to reduce the size of the liver. The liver is a large organ that must be lifted to perform the surgery safely. If it is smaller, the risk of complications such as bleeding is minimized.
• Regular exercise helps prepare for the procedure and aids recovery.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
Cholecystectomy surgery aims to alleviate the patient's pain and enable him to resume a normal diet. This is in addition to preventing the serious complications that gallstones can cause.
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy through several small incisions in the abdomen, where precise surgical instruments are used to access and remove the gallbladder.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy takes about an hour and is characterized by less pain, fewer surgical scars, and a quicker return to normal activities. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam performs the following steps:
1. In the operating room, under general anaesthesia, a small needle is inserted into the navel to allow the abdomen to be inflated with gas.
2. Next, a small surgical incision is created, followed by the insertion of a thin laparoscope with a camera at the end to allow visualization inside the abdominal cavity.
3. The second incision is made just below the chest bone in the midline of the abdomen, and the third and fourth incisions are placed on the right side of the abdomen to insert surgical instruments and allow the gallbladder to be removed later in the procedure. All these incisions are only 1 to 2 centimeters.
4. The gallbladder is then freed from any scar tissue that may be present from previous episodes of acute cholecystitis.
5. After that, the bile duct, which connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct, is identified, as well as the small blood vessel supplying the gallbladder.
6. The procedure involves injecting a dye through a catheter to visualize the bile ducts and check for any stones using an X-ray screen. If no stones are found in the bile duct, the gallbladder is removed through one of the small incisions.
If there are stones in the bile duct, most can also be removed laparoscopically or flushed through the bile duct into the intestine, where they pass without further problems.
Recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients are usually able to return home the same day or the next day. Most patients return to normal activities within one to two weeks after surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a breakthrough where traditional surgery requires a 10-day hospital stay.
Regarding the foods after the surgery, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam recommends low-fat meals during the first two weeks. This period is sufficient for the body to accommodate to the gallbladder absence.
Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has a complication rate of less than 2%. It is a very safe procedureddis and is performed frequently with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy. Most patients recover and resume normal activities quickly.
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
• You can live a completely normal life without a gallbladder, as the liver continues to produce bile to digest food, but it is not stored in the gallbladder but drips into the digestive system continuously.
• A special diet may be recommended before surgery, but it is not necessary to continue it afterwards. Instead, an overall healthy and balanced diet can be followed.
Cholecystectomy is one of the most performed abdominal surgeries. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy, performs many laparoscopically. Laparoscopy offers the optimal surgical treatment for gallstones because it is characterized by less postoperative pain, better cosmetic results, shorter hospital stays, and less work absence compared to open cholecystectomy.
1. In the operating room, under general anaesthesia, a small needle is inserted into the navel to allow the abdomen to be inflated with gas.
2. Next, a small surgical incision is created, followed by the insertion of a thin laparoscope with a camera at the end to allow visualization inside the abdominal cavity.
3. The second incision is made just below the chest bone in the midline of the abdomen, and the third and fourth incisions are placed on the right side of the abdomen to insert surgical instruments and allow the gallbladder to be removed later in the procedure. All these incisions are only 1 to 2 centimeters.
4. The gallbladder is then freed from any scar tissue that may be present from previous episodes of acute cholecystitis.
5. After that, the bile duct, which connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct, is identified, as well as the small blood vessel supplying the gallbladder.
6. The procedure involves injecting a dye through a catheter to visualize the bile ducts and check for any stones using an X-ray screen. If no stones are found in the bile duct, the gallbladder is removed through one of the small incisions.
If there are stones in the bile duct, most can also be removed laparoscopically or flushed through the bile duct into the intestine, where they pass without further problems.
Recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients are usually able to return home the same day or the next day. Most patients return to normal activities within one to two weeks after surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a breakthrough where traditional surgery requires a 10-day hospital stay.
Regarding the foods after the surgery, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam recommends low-fat meals during the first two weeks. This period is sufficient for the body to accommodate to the gallbladder absence.
Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has a complication rate of less than 2%. It is a very safe procedureddis and is performed frequently with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy. Most patients recover and resume normal activities quickly.
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
• You can live a completely normal life without a gallbladder, as the liver continues to produce bile to digest food, but it is not stored in the gallbladder but drips into the digestive system continuously.
• A special diet may be recommended before surgery, but it is not necessary to continue it afterwards. Instead, an overall healthy and balanced diet can be followed.
Cholecystectomy is one of the most performed abdominal surgeries. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy, performs many laparoscopically. Laparoscopy offers the optimal surgical treatment for gallstones because it is characterized by less postoperative pain, better cosmetic results, shorter hospital stays, and less work absence compared to open cholecystectomy.
