Gallbladder removal surgery isn’t always the first line of treatment for conditions that affect the gallbladder. But if medications and other therapies aren’t working, surgical treatment is usually the only way to resolve the problem and restore your health.
At North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas, our board-certified surgeon Dr. Balaguru Sambandam specializes in minimally invasive gallbladder surgery. Dr. Sambandam uses laparoscopic techniques to remove your gallbladder, so you can find lasting relief of symptoms related to gallbladder disease.
Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that rests below your liver. It’s responsible for storing bile, a fluid your liver produces to break down fats from your diet. Bile travels through the bile duct, a tube that connects your liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.
Gallbladder disease usually develops when there’s a blockage in the bile duct that prevents bile from flowing through freely. Gallstones are the most common cause of duct blockages. Stones form when pieces of cholesterol or bilirubin harden and settle into the bile duct.
Gallstones can also cause other gallbladder complications, including:
Cholecystitis is acute gallbladder inflammation that occurs when gallstones block bile flow. Inflammation can also be a side effect of cancer and other gallbladder diseases.
Choledocholithiasis is a condition that develops when gallstones get trapped in the bile ducts or the neck of your gallbladder. The blockage causes a buildup of bile that expands your gallbladder and triggers localized inflammation.
These gallbladder complications can give rise to a variety of symptoms, including moderate to severe abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), fever, and vomiting.
Surgery to remove your gallbladder (cholecystectomy) may be necessary if lifestyle changes, diet improvements, and medications aren’t enough to prevent gallbladder-related symptoms.
You may also be a candidate for gallbladder surgery if you have frequent or severe gallbladder attacks that disrupt your ability to work and meet other responsibilities.
At North Tarrant Health Providers, we offer several diagnostic tests onsite, including computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to assess the health of your gallbladder.
Dr. Sambandam may initially prescribe medications or other therapies to ease your symptoms and improve your gallbladder function. He continues to monitor the frequency and severity of your symptoms to determine when surgery is necessary.
During surgery, Dr. Sambandam inserts laparoscopic instruments through small incisions in the upper part of your abdomen just below your ribs. He uses the tools to remove the entire organ and redirect the flow of bile through the hepatic duct into the duodenum, or the first part of your small intestine.
The smaller incisions of minimally invasive surgery offer many benefits for your health and recovery. You can expect to go home the same day as your surgery, and your incisions should heal faster than the deeper incisions of traditional surgery. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy also reduces your risk for bleeding, scarring, and other postsurgical complications.
Many people are able to get back to their usual routine within a couple of weeks following the procedure. You can also expect to live a high quality of life without your gallbladder, as it’s not an organ your body needs to sustain life.
Initially, you might notice some changes in your bowel habits, but these issues are temporary and should resolve on their own without further medical intervention. In the meantime, Dr. Sambandam continues to monitor your recovery from surgery to ensure you remain free of complications.
Would you like to learn more about gallbladder surgery? We’re here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit with Dr. Sambandam at North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas, today.
