Cholecystectomy : gallbladder removal surgery
Operations | Anaesthetic | Procedure Time | Hospital Stay | Stay In Tunisia | Back To Work | All Inclusive Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholecystectomy: | General | 0:45-2 hour(s) | 3 night(s) | 6 night(s) | 7-10 day(s) | £ 2600 |
What is the Gallbladder?
The gallbladder ablation or cholecystectomy is a relatively innocuous intervention. It only requires a short hospitalization; it helps patients in case of pain or complications due to gallstones. The gallbladder concentrates and stores the bile produced by the liver. This liquid is composed of cholesterol, pigments, bile salts. It participates in the digestion of fats. But sometimes, some changes in the bile's composition or the presence of germs cause the crystals formation, which aggregates each other and form stones or "stones of the liver". The later is known as cholelithiasis. They form in variable sizes, these "stones" are mostly composed of cholesterol (unrelated to blood cholesterol). Obesity, diabetes, multiple pregnancies, family history or some lipid-lowering drugs like clofibrate can be the cause for such problems.
Also, note that women are more often affected than men.
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped structure that is found attached to the liver. It is attached to the bile duct by a small tube known as the cystic duct. The bile duct is a tube that transports bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is collected in the gallbladder between meals and empties into the bile duct through the cystic duct during a meal. The bile duct is a long tube-like structure that relates the liver to the intestine. The liver makes bile that is required for food digestion.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a minor invasive procedure in which the gallbladder is extracted by laparoscopic guidance. The surgery is carried out with the assistance of a video camera and several thin instruments. The patient will mostly be under general anesthesia . Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has an excellent safety record since it is performed very usually and its complications are minimal. I It is a very safe intervention. Its complication rate is less than 2% which is similar to the classic open gallbladder surgery, as long as it is carried out by a talented and well-experienced surgeon.
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Cholecystectomy price
The price of a Cholecystectomy in Tunisia coupled with a week of recovery or vacation in a 5 stars hotel is at least % cheaper than the sole procedure in Europe and for the same medical quality.
| Operations | Our price | UK price | Making you save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cholecystectomy: | £ 2500 | £ 5000 | 50 % |
How is laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed?
The laparoscopic cholecystectomy intervention is carried out under general anesthesia. It lasts between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the gallbladder’s state, the patient's weight among other factors.
During a laparoscopic surgical procedure, the surgeon performs four small incisions, about half an inch each, in total around the belly button. Then, they place four thin tubes, known as laparoscopic ports, through them. After that, the practitioner inserts the camera and the instruments over the ports which enable access to inside the patient's abdomen by displaying the organs image onto a TV monitor. The surgeon performs the cholecystectomy through the use of the image shown on the screen. It gives them a clear and high-quality view inside the patient's body The surgeon introduces special instruments through the three remaining incisions in order to separate the gallbladder from its junctions with the liver and the bile duct, and then removes it via one tube from the abdomen. Finally, before suturing the incisions, the surgeon may perform an X-ray, known as cholangiogram, so that they make sure that there are no stones left in the bile duct.
In case where the anatomy structures are not translucent or there is an excessive scarring, the practitioner may switch the surgery from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to an open surgical procedure by executing a large incision. According to statistics, less than 5% of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are converted to open intervention. This shift is mainly made to ensure the patient’s safety. In fact, many factors play a role in this conversion especially when the patient is suffering from obesity, or they went through abdominal surgery which caused heavy scars in the tissues. In other cases, the patient may experience cholecystitis or bleeding problems during the intervention.
Postoperative effects and recovery period
The laparoscopy replaces the classic method where the surgeon makes a wide incision. As a result, the postoperative effects are less painful and incisions are much smaller. The recovery period is shorter, the patient is hospitalized one night or can leave the same day of the surgery. The stitches in laparoscopic cholecystectomy are almost tiny compared to the standard one. If the patient experiences a feeling of discomfort or a little pain, the surgeon may prescribe simple analgesics. It is advised to rest for one week after the surgery.
The recovery period for open cholecystectomy takes about 6 weeks. However, the patient can remove the dressings and take a shower the next day of the procedure. It is essential to avoid any tiresome physical efforts during the first weeks after the intervention for they can cause traumatism. So, the resumption of normal activities should be done gradually.
Result of a cholecystectomy procedure
Cholecystectomy is the only way to prevent the occurrence of symptomatic gallstones. It is possible to experience mild diarrhea after this procedure, but this disappears with time. Note that the gallbladder is not essential for digestion. A lot of people do not feel digestive problems following this intervention. Generally, patients are fully recovered after 7 to ten days. As for daily activities, it depends on the nature of the patient’s jobs. If they perform manual labour or heavy lifting, it is important to resume their jobs after two to four weeks.
If after gallbladder ablation the patient experiences nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, pain and abdomen hardening, pain recurrence or darker urine, they should promptly tell their doctor.