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Laparoscopic cholecystectomy |
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Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is typically an operation that is performed when patients have gallstones causing pain in the right side of the abdomen. The pain may be associated with fever, nausea, vomiting or bloating. An ultrasound of the abdomen is the diagnostic test of choice and is highly reliable. Patients with symptoms related to gallstones are generally good candidates for laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. Perioperative preparation is minimal and no bowel prep is required. The operation is accomplished through 4 small incisions and lasts approximately 30-90 minutes. This procedure is done as outpatient surgery and overall recovery is about 2-3 weeks. Few patients have complications, but the occasional patient will have bleeding, infection, or unlikely an intraoperative injury to the bile duct. Side effects are infrequent but patients may develop transient diarrhea after the operation. For more information see. SSAT |