Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, is a major surgery, but it's a routine and minimally invasive one. In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy the surgeon makes several small 1 inch long incisions. The surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera (laparoscope) into the incision and removes the gallbladder with tiny surgical tools, guided by the images on the camera. Read more: Is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Major Surgery? Article
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
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Gallstones: Test Your Medical IQ
What are gallstones? Take this quiz to learn why they form and what you may be able to do to prevent them.
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Picture of Gallbladder
Front View of the Gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small pouch that sits just under the liver. See a picture of the Gallbladder...
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Digestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions
Learn about the digestive system and common misconceptions of digestive disorders. Read about what causes ulcers, heartburn,...
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Digestive Disorders: What Your Poop Type and Color Mean
The different shapes and colors of your stool can tell you something about your health.
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Digestive Disorders: Visual Guide to Stomach Ulcers
Learn about the causes and symptoms of stomach ulcers, and find out which kinds of treatment can help.
SLIDESHOW
Popular Dieting Myths and Facts See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
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Gallstones
Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause signs or symptoms; however, when they do occur the primary sign is biliary colic. Symptoms of biliary colic are constant pain for 15 minutes to 4-5 hours, and it may vary in intensity; nausea, severe pain that does not worsen with movement; and pain beneath the sternum. Treatment of gallstones depends upon the patient and the clinical situation.
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Gallbladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is a rare form of cancer with symptoms that include jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, abdominal lumps, and bloating. Risk factors include being female and Native American. Treatment of gallbladder cancer depends upon the stage of the cancer, the type of gallbladder cancer, and whether the cancer can be removed by surgery.
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Gallbladder Pain (Gall Bladder Pain)
Gallbladder pain (often misspelled "gall bladder") is generally produced by of five problems, biliary colic, cholecystitis, gallstones, and pancreatitis. Causes of gallbladder pain include intermittent blockage of ducts by gallstones or gallstone inflammation and/or sludge that also may involve irritation or infection of surrounding tissues, or when a bile duct is completely blocked. Treatment of gallbladder depends on the cause, which may include surgery.
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Why Do You Get Gallstones?
The bile contents in the bile may sometimes crystallize and form gallstones. The potential causes of gallstones include high cholesterol, high bilirubin and decreased bladder emptying. Risk factors for gallstones include female gender, age over 40, obesity, weight loss, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, family history, diabetes, liver disease, pregnancy, blood disorder and use of certain medications.
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Can Gallstones Go Away on Their Own?
The bile contents may sometimes crystallize and form gallstones. If there are no symptoms, a regular follow-up would suffice. Natural remedies and medical management may prevent worsening of the condition. Treatment is necessary if the stones cause pain or swelling of the gallbladder. Surgery may be required if nonsurgical treatments fail or there is a high risk of complications.
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Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Gallstones
Bile contents in the bile may sometimes crystallize and form gallstones. They may be as small as a grain of salt or as large as a tennis ball, causing serious complications. The treatment of gallstones usually involves surgical removal of the gallbladder.
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What Is Laparoscopy Used For?
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery that helps diagnose and treat many health conditions. A laparoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and small video camera on the end. The tube is put into a small surgical cut made through the abdominal wall near the belly button.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- Gallstones FAQs
- Hernia Repair with Laparoscopy
- Ashcroft Surgery for Gallstone Pancreatitis
- Gallstones' Bark Is Bigger Than Its Bite
- Can Laparoscopy Treat Ectopic Pregnancy?
- Can you pass gallstones?
- Can Gallbladder Pain Continue after Gallbladder Surgery?
- Can MRI Find Pancreatic Duct Stones?
- Can Gallbladder Problems Cause Blood Clots?
- What Are Gallbladder Polyps?
- How Do I Get Rid of Diarrhea from Gallbladder Removal?
- What Is a Contracted Gallbladder?
- Do I Need to Change My Diet after Gallbladder Surgery?
- What Causes Gallbladder Pain?
Prevention & Wellness
- Drink Coffee, Avoid Gallstones?
- Health Tip: Signs of Gallstones
- Could You Have Silent Gallstones?
- Health Tip: Recognize Symptoms of Gallstones
- Gallstones Linked to Higher Heart Disease Risk
- Daytime May Be Better for Gallbladder Removal
- Health Tip: Losing Weight? Reduce Your Risk of Gallstones
- Complications More Likely With Emergency Gallbladder Surgery: Study
- Hormone Pills in Menopause May Carry Gallstone Side Effects
- Gallstones in Kids, Teens Linked to Obesity
- Health Tip: Am I at Risk for Gallstones?
- Health Tip: Why You're More Likely to Develop Gallstones
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