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What You Need To Know About Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States today.

Typically, the surgery is done laparoscopically, which means that instead of making a 5” to 7” incision to operate through, the doctor will make 4-5 small incisions through which he will insert a small camera and surgical tools to complete the operation.

The doctor will view the inside of your body on a TV screen and manipulate the special surgical tools like in a video game.

The formal medical term for this operation is a “Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.”

In addition to avoiding the large incision in your abdomen, there are a number of other benefits of having a gallbladder removed laparoscopically.

• There is a lower risk of infection;
• Patients usually have minimal post-operative pain;
• Most patients go home within one day and enjoy a quicker return to normal activities; and
• Patients usually experience a faster overall recovery.

In spite of these obvious benefits, there are some things you need to know about laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.

First, although there are many advantages to laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the procedure may not be appropriate for some patients who have had previous upper abdominal surgery or who have some pre-existing medical conditions. It is important that you consult with your doctor and provide a complete medical history.

Second, there is a steep learning curve for surgeons performing laparoscopic surgery. Unless your surgeon has performed many laparoscopic procedures he may still be learning the appropriate laparoscopic technique. Experience counts and I would recommend that you ask about your surgeon’s experience before having any laparoscopic procedure performed.

Third, complications can and do occur in every type of surgery, laparoscopic or open. Having said that, in a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery there are some very specific complications that occur more often laparoscopically that you need to be aware of.

For example, in a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, there can be injury to adjacent structures such as the common bile duct and the small bowel. Should this occur, you may need another surgery to repair the damage. If these complications were caused negligently, you may have a medical malpractice claim.

If you have a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery and have any of the following symptoms, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons advises that you need to call your doctor immediately:

• Persistent fever over 101 degrees
• Bleeding
• Increasing abdominal swelling
• Pain that is not relieved by your medications
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Chills
• Persistent cough or shortness of breath
• Pus draining from any incision
• Redness surrounding any of your incisions that is worsening or getting bigger
• You are unable to eat or drink liquids

If you have questions about your laparoscopic gallbladder removal, and believe you have suffered personal injury as a result of the procedure, the attorneys at the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys have significant experience in pursuing medical negligence cases of this type in Missouri and Kansas. We would be happy to work with you in evaluating your Kansas City personal injury matter.

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