Gallstone, gallstone surgery, cholecystectomy

The morbidity rate of gallstone is around 4% - 10%. By using the traditional cholecystectomy, a 15-20 cm scar would be left in the upper abdomen and under the ribs. The recent development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been widely accepted by general surgeons, which has minimize the size of scar, lessened postoperative discomfort and shortened the recovery.

Clinically, laparoscopic surgery has limitation including: pregnancy, severe bleeding patients, for those who are allergic to narcotic drugs, intestinal obstruction or low capacitive shock…etc. Other than that, early or late pregnancy, pregnant women, severe cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, cholangitis and pancreatitis, septic Peritonitis, incomplete intestinal obstruction, recent months with myocardial infarction who had undergone previous abdominal surgery, emphysema, diaphragm gas disease, or abdominal tumor was too large need to be evaluated by experienced doctor to see whether the patient is suitable to undergo the treatment.

Actually, there are other non-surgical methods of eliminating gallstones include dissolution and fragmentation. The complications of those non-surgical methods are lower but the recurrence rate is more than 50%. Patients need to repeat the treatments or taking medication to prevent recurring. The treatments are not common in clinical practice. Common complications generally include: bile leak, bile duct obstruction, residual bile duct stones, wound infection, bleeding…etc. the probabilities of complications is only 0-3%.

The success rate of gallstone surgery is relatively high either laparoscopy or conventional laparotomy. According to clinical statistics, there are less than 5% patients need to change the treatment from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to traditional cholecystectomy. Moreover, elders and male patients are more likely to change the treatment to traditional cholecystectomy.

Reference information: www.genesis-surgery.com

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult Surgery Specialist before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.