Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
The surgeon operates by means of a set of four small (0,5 - 1cm) incisions and looks at the monitor to control his actions
The gallbladder is fixed with clamps and adhesions are detached. Then staples are placed at the artery and duct of the gallbladder.
Between the staples cutting of the structures takes place.
Hereafter the gallbladder is detached from the liver. This happens with a little hook that cuts the tissue electrically and makes sure that no bleeding occurs.
After the gallbladder has been entirely detached it can be removed through the umbilicus directly or after it has been placed in a plastic bag like in this example.
The plastic bag is partly removed out of the abdomen at the umbilicus and the gallbladder is removed. The gallbladder contains several small and large stones.
The operation by means of the laparoscopy succeeds in approximately 95-98% of the cases. At the operation CO2 gas in the abdomen is inflated to allow visibility and working space. Because of this shoulder pain is possible after the intervention because of gasirritation at the diafragm. This will disappear. When it is not possible to perform the operation laparoscopically, the gallbladder is removed during the same anesthesia by means of a larger incision under the right costal margin. After a succesfull laparoscopic operation the patient can generally leave the clinic the day after the intervention.