Cholecystectomy – Gallbladder Removal Surgery
You know the feeling… a sudden, intense pain in the abdomen… but unlike indigestion, this time it’s not going away. No matter how you move, it’s hard to get comfortable. Could it be gallstones? As small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, gallstones are hard deposits of cholesterol or bile that build up in the gallbladder.
Approximately 30 million adults in the U.S. suffer from gallstones. For patients in Southeast Texas, there are options for treatment at Mithani MD.
Who needs gallbladder surgery?
If gallstones are not causing symptoms, your physician may recommend watchful waiting and changing your eating habits. However, in the many cases in which gallstones are causing symptoms, surgery is necessary for treatment. Surgical removal of the gallbladder may be performed to alleviate pain and treat or protect against infection.
Common symptoms, which may necessitate cholecystectomy, may include:
- Sharp abdominal pain (upper right area, sometimes extending to the mid-abdomen, right shoulder or back)
- Low-grade fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, which is caused by increased bilirubin)
How does gallbladder surgery work?
There are two types of gallbladder surgeries: open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During an open procedure, the gallbladder is removed via a large incision on the right side of the abdomen just beneath the rib cage. Almost all gallbladder surgeries performed by Dr. Mithani are laparoscopic cholecystectomies. This minimally invasive approach allows Dr. Mithani to remove the gallbladder through just a few small incisions (as opposed to one large open incision). Special surgical and optical tools allow her to remove the gallbladder with minimal trauma to surrounding areas.
What are the benefits of cholecystectomy?
By removing the gallbladder, Dr. Mithani is able to relieve patients of pain and treat infection caused by gallstones. Furthermore, with the gallbladder gone, patients won’t have to worry about developing gallstones again in the future. Cholecystectomy is the only way to fully remove gallstones.
By opting for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, many patients are able to return to work and their normal routines within just a few days.
Are there risks involved?
As with any surgery, risks are involved. Risk factors and levels are unique to each patient. A preoperative consultation with Dr. Mithani will include a full evaluation and discussion of potential risk factors as they pertain to you.
Schedule a Cholecystectomy Consultation Today
For more information about laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery with Dr. Mithani, please call (409) 721-5150. You can also schedule your appointmet online. Serving patients in Port Arthur and Beaumont, as well as throughout Southeast Texas, including Jefferson County, Nederland, Groves, Port Neches and Bridge City
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- Wednesday 8:30 - 4:30PM
- Thursday 8:30 - 4:00PM
- Friday - Sunday Closed
