Working hand in hand with the liver, the gall bladder is a minor organ in the body that helps to store and concentrate bile which is released into the digestive tract when fat is available for digestion. All this is made possible through a well organized system of tubes or channels arising from the liver, through the gallbladder to the alimentary canal. Unfortunately, this system may be compromised to a point where surgery has to be done to bring back normal function. Consequent sections of this article give more details about gallbladder surgery Queens NY residents may find useful.

One of the typical conditions which may necessitate an operation is the presence of gallstones. This simply refers to formation of crystals in the gallbladder, resulting in clogging and inflammation. The stones can be made of cholesterol or calcium and other elements. The latter are also known as pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are yellow in colour, while pigment stones are black or brown. Factors that predispose an individual to suffer from gallstones include a previous history of the same, obesity, dehydration and age over forty.

Gallstones present as abdominal pain in the region where the bladder is located, that is the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The pain is usually intermittent and may be associated with food intake. It usually is an intense pain that may last several hours. This happens when a stone is released from the gallbladder and gets lodged into one of the biliary ducts (transport channels). The stone travels back and forth due to peristaltic waves within the ducts hence the intermittency of the pain. The itensity of discomfort is directly proportional to the size and number of stones.

In addition, a patient suspected to have gallbladder disease may have yellow eyes and skin if severe. Frequent episodes of vomiting can result in loss of the require fluid volume in the body. Therefore, these patient need to be monitored for any signs of dehydration such as dry, sunken eyes, disheveled skin and reduced urination. Fever and pain should be controlled using the appropriate drugs.

It is important for the doctor to have a high index of suspicion because the consequences of untreated gallstones are unpalatable. This is because the associated inflammatory process and the building up of pressure within the limited space can result in the organ bursting and leakage of its contents. This further stimulates a new inflammatory process in the surrounding structures. The situation should therefore be treated with urgency to avoid further damage.

Since gallstones have a high tendency to recur, they are best treated by simply getting rid of your gallbladder through a surgical procedure called cholecystectomy, usually performed under general anaesthesia. In preparing the patient for surgery, the doctor will do specific laboratory tests to check whether your system can withstand the stress of an operation. The operating team will also need an abdominal ultrasound to have an idea of how severe the damage is before they go in.

Surgery can be done either laparoscopically or via open technique. Laparoscopic surgery results in fewer incisions and therefore has a better cosmetic outcome in the long run. On the other hand, the open technique takes much longer, is associated with more complications during the operation and leaves the patient with large hideous scars in the long run.

The average duration for a cholecystectomy done laparoscopically is less than an hour. It may take longer if one opts for open surgery and if complications arise during the procedure. Some of the risks of this procedure include excessive blood loss, damage to surrounding organs and infection. Being under general anesthesia, the patient may also be at risk of aspiration, cardiac arrest and other anesthesia related complications. The good news is that after a successful cholecystectomy, there is no chance of getting gallstones in the future.