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Even though the gallbladder is not one of the most “popular” organs in the body, it still plays an extremely important part in keeping the body healthy and balanced. Furthermore, when something is wrong with the gallbladder, it can lead to many other health problems if not taken care of. Sometimes, the smallest chunk of ice on the mountain can tip the scales and cause an earthquake.

In this article, I will introduce the wonderful organ that is the gallbladder. I will also discuss gallbladder problems, including the symptoms and cure. Further, gall bladder surgery will be extensively explored.

The gallbladder is a very special sac that is located under the liver. This sac stores and concentrates all the bile that is produced in the liver. Bile, by the way, is a watery liquid made by the cells of the liver that aids in the digestion of fat in the intestines. This bile is released in response to food. Conditions that constrict or stop the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease (also known as gallbladder attack). There are two main types of gallbladder disease:

• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cholelithiasis (gallbladder stones)

The body has several ways of telling you that your gallbladder is in trouble. Sometimes, a gripping or gnawing pain is felt in the mid or right portion of the upper abdomen. This gallbladder pain can also spread to the upper back and, in some cases, is felt in the breastbone. In most cases, the pain will not diminish from changing positions, taking medication, or passing gas. Nausea or vomiting may also occur. These gallbladder symptoms, once felt, usually re-occur up to once a week and make it difficult for the patient to eat, sleep, and even breathe. In most cases, gallbladder surgery is the only option that stops the symptoms permanently. There are tow types of gallbladder surgery:

• Laparoscopic gallbladder removal
• Traditional gallbladder removal

Traditional gallbladder surgery is called a cholecystectomy. A 5-8 inch long incision is made in the abdomen. The incision is usually made on the right side of the body directly below the ribs. The hospital stay after traditional gallbladder removal can range anywhere from 4-7 days. After 4-6 weeks, most patients find themselves able to resume most normal activities. Gallbladder surgery diet after traditional gallbladder removal is strictly liquids for the first two days. After two days, the patient must slowly transition back to solids. Usually, the patient’s diet is completely normal 2 weeks after surgery. Gallbladder surgery side effects, in the case of traditional gallbladder removal, can consist of:

• Internal bleeding
• Infection of incision
• Injury to the common bile duct

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, all in all, is a better choice for most patients. This type of gallbladder removal surgery is technically called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A Laparoscope is a thin tube with a tiny camera at the tip that is used to see the inside of the patient’s body. This instrument is used to remove the gallbladder. Several small incisions are made instead of one large incision, which means less scarring. The laparoscope is then inserted into one of the incisions while the surgeon’s tools are placed into the other incisions. The gallbladder is also removed through one of the incisions. The hospital stay after laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is considerably shorter than the hospital stay after traditional gallbladder surgery. Further, gallbladder surgery recovery time is significantly shorter with laparoscopic surgery. The patient usually resumes all normal activities 2-3 weeks after the surgery. There is a special diet associated with laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, but it is nowhere near as extreme as the diet that comes with traditional gallbladder surgery. Gallbladder surgery complications, in this case, can include:

• Infection of the incision
• Internal bleeding
• Injury to common bile duct
• Injury to small intestines by instrument used during surgery

Gallbladder surgery cost depends on surgeon and procedure. In most instances, laparoscopic surgery is less expensive. In almost 100% of gallbladder cases, insurance companies pay for all or most of the cost.

In the end, the surgeon performing the gallbladder removal will decide which form of surgery is better for that particular patient. In most cases, laparoscopic surgery is used, just because it is an all around easier procedure for both patient and doctor. Thanks to the advancements of medical science, newer and better ways of performing many operations are being discovered. In this case, an operation is taken from being a two-month ordeal to a two-week inconvenience. Hopefully, in the future, even more discoveries will be made.