Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Surgery

Gall Bladder is a small pear shaped organ located below the liver on the right side of the abdomen.

Function of Gall Bladder : It stores  and concentrates  bile produced by liver and releases it into the small intestine  on eating fatty food.

Why do gall stones form?  Gall stones form due to imbalance in the bile salts, cholesterol and water resulting in sediment formation and subsequently stone formation.
Some people are more prone to gall stone formation----
1) Women are 4 times more prone then males
2) Women who have had pregnancy , are overweight ,are on contraceptive pills
3) Excess fat in diet is a risk factor
4) Fasting for long hours
5) Typhoid Fever
Gall stones can develop at any age ( from child to elderly)

Signs and symptoms of Gall stones-

Stones in gall bladder—It may be silent or may cause pain (mainly in right upper abdomen) associated with nausea , vomiting, bloating, heartburn, fever.

Stones in cystic duct--- Stone can enter the cystic duct leading to retention of fluid inside the gall bladder resulting in distention of the gall bladder, infection in the gall bladder ( Acute cholecystitis) or pus formation in   the gall bladder (Empyema).

Stones in common bile duct (CBD)--- Stone can slip from the gall bladder into the CBD resulting in the blockage of the bile flow from liver to intestine  leading to development of jaundice(yellow discolouration of skin , eyes and urine)—It is called obstructive jaundice. This also leads to fever, central abdominal pain, vomiting, and anorexia.

This at times may result in pancreatitis which may prove fatal.

Diagnosis and evaluation of the patient---

1. Ultrasound abdomen (investigation of choice)-it is able to show stones in 98% cases.
2. MRCP/ CT scan abdomen---may be required in complicated cases
3. ERCP---required in suspected cases of CBD stone
4. LFT (Liver function test)—to rule out possibility od CBD stone
5. CBC, Blood Sugar, Blood urea, urine R/M, X-ray Chest and ECG to evaluate general well being of the patient to tolerate surgery 

 

Treatment
Stones in gall bladder--- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Stones in cystic duct--- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Stones in common bile duct (CBD) ---  Endoscopic removal of CBD stone followed by Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Why Cholecystectomy ( Removal of Gall Bladder) ?

1. Internationally, it is the only accepted treatment option for gall stones.
2. Once gall stones form, gall bladder is already diseased, has reduced capacity and is non functioning.
3. Risk of cancer formation in this diseased gall bladder. Gall bladder cancer is very difficult to diagnose, is easily missed on routine investigation, very difficult to treat on routine investigations, and has high mortality rate.
4. If only gall stone is removed there is risk of recurrence which is eliminated if gall bladder is removed
5. High risk of complications of gall stones—Infection, Empyema, perforation of gallbladder, CBD stone to name a few.
6. In my experience, medicines used by few of my patients to treat stones lead to more complications such as slipping of stones in CBD.