Instruments Used in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

A normally functioning gallbladder serves to store bile produced by the liver. When there is excess cholesterol in the bile, gallstones can occur. Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology states that this is a very common medical issue that leads to one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States.

Definition

• The Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases describes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a minimally invasive way to remove the gallbladder. Small incisions are made in the abdomen and held open by plastic ports. These ports are used to introduce instruments and cameras into the abdomen.

Features

• The camera (called a laparoscope) is on the end of a long, flexible tube and is usually inserted through an incision near the belly button. The image is transmitted to a monitor the doctor watches during the surgery. Other specially designed instruments are inserted through the other incisions, which may include scalpels or clamps. These special instruments are long and thin to reach through the ports to the gallbladder.

Considerations

• According to the website MedicineNet, open surgery to remove the gallbladder involves a 5 to 8 inch incision in the abdomen. This larger incision requires a longer recovery than the several small incisions of the laparoscopic procedure and usually is more painful. Hospital stays are also shorter with laparoscopic procedures (usually just overnight), leading to lower medical costs for you.