Gallbladder Surgery Surgery in India

Overview:

Gallbladder surgery is a procedure to remove the gallbladder, which is an organ that stores bile used in food digestion. The gallbladder is located under the liver. Sometimes gallstones that block the normal flow of bile to the small intestine can form in the gall bladder and cause pancreatitis, a dangerous condition. When pancreatitis occurs or gallbladder cancer is suspected, the gallbladder is removed. Gallstones, gallbladders rupture and sphincter constrictions are the common gallbladder diseases, which can affect a person at any age. The doctors may recommend you the gallbladder removal surgery, in case the uneasiness and pain due to the diseases does not stop.

Gallbladder Surgery History:

Early gallbladder surgery did not involve the removal of the gallbladder itself. These early operations consisted of entering the abdominal cavity, opening the gallbladder and removing the stones. The gallbladder was closed, and amazingly the patients did very well. The first such operation was performed in Indianapolis in 1867. In 1882 a surgeon by the name of Johann August Langenbuch proposed that the entire gallbladder be removed. After years of experimentation and development, the removal of the gallbladder has become the operation of choice for gallstones and gallbladder disease.

Conditions Treated with Gallbladder Surgery:

Gallbladder surgery may be performed to treat the following conditions:

• Gallbladder disease
• Gallstones
• Infection or inflammation (cholecystitis)
• Gallbladder cancer
• Biliary dyskinesia (abnormal gallbladder function)

Gallbladder Surgery Success Rate:

For laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the success rate is approximately 100%. Sometimes, however, about 2% of the time, it needs to make a bigger incision to complete the operation safely. That’s called a “conversion to open surgery.” If it’s done, it’s for your safety. Also, if you need to have an open surgery, it’ll be all 100% of you that gets the incision -- that’s the way statistics work.

Preparation for Gallbladder Surgery:

Before gallbladder surgery you have to do some preparations for better results. You may be told to get additional tests such as X-rays and lab tests.

Your doctor will also give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.

Depending on the circumstances of your surgery, you may be instructed to do the following:

• Completely empty your colon and cleanse your intestines prior to surgery. You may be requested to drink clear liquids only for one or several days prior to surgery.
• Stop eating or drinking after midnight the night before the operation except medications that your doctor has told you are permissible to take with a sip of water the morning of surgery.
• Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Find someone to drive you home after the surgery. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties.
• Stop smoking at least six to eight weeks prior to surgery as smoking delays wound healing. Smokers are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery.

Gallbladder Surgery Procedure Types:

There are two types of gallbladder surgery procedure open and laparoscopic. The laparoscopic method is utilized more frequently, but some patients, particularly if they are obese, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant and near the due date, or have extensive scarring from previous abdominal surgeries are not candidates. The choice of procedure is made on an individual basis.

Following two types of Gallbladder surgery is performed:

1. Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery :
   • During the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery procedure, surgeon will make two or three small cuts (about 5 to 10mm long) through the skin of your abdomen. One cut will be above, or just below, your navel (tummy button), and the others on the right side of your abdomen.
   • Surgeon will then inflate your abdomen using carbon dioxide gas to make it easier to see your internal organs. He or she will then pass a laparoscope (a long, thin telescope with a light and camera lens at the tip) through one of the cuts. This allows your surgeon to view your internal organs on a monitor.
   • Specially adapted surgical instruments help move the internal organs and allow your surgeon to cut and remove the gallbladder. X-ray images may be taken during the operation, so that your surgeon can see if any gallstones are blocking your bile duct.
   • Afterwards, the instruments are removed and the gas is allowed to escape through the laparoscope. The skin cuts are closed with dissolvable stitches and covered with a dressing.
   • The operation takes 60 to 90 minutes.
2. Open Gallbladder Surgery :
   • In gallbladder removal surgery, a surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in your belly to open it up and see the area. The surgeon then removes your gallbladder by reaching in through the incision and gently lifting it out.
   • Surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and unable to feel pain).
   • The surgeon will make a 5 to 7 inch incision in the upper right part of your belly, just below your ribs. The surgeon will cut the bile duct and blood vessels that lead to the gallbladder. Then your gallbladder will be removed.
   • A special x-ray called a cholangiogram will be done during the surgery. This involves squirting some dye into your common bile duct. This duct will be left inside you after your gallbladder has been removed. The dye helps locate other stones that may be outside your gallbladder. If any are found, the surgeon may be able to remove these other stones with a special medical instrument.
   • Open gallbladder removal surgery takes about an hour.

Recovery after Gallbladder Surgery:

• For speedy recovery from gall bladder surgery the patient is monitored for hours after the surgery has been performed on the patient.
• Consult your doctor for treating the constipation in you after the surgery. Having proper diet is an important factor for recovery.
• Foods that contain high fats should be avoided for faster recovery. High fat foods place more burdens on the digestive system.
• After the surgery the system releases constant level of bile whereas for digesting high fat foods the digestive system requires more bile than the normal level.
• Avoiding such foods would expedite your recovery. During the initial days only liquid foods are recommended, particularly on the day of the operation.
• Only one or two days of hospitalization are required for laproscopic method of gall bladder removal. In the conventional methods of surgery the recovery from gall bladder surgery takes 6 to 8 weeks.
• Exercises like stretching would put pressure on the abdominal muscles in your body. Hence such exercises should be avoided during recovery period from gall bladder surgery.

Benefits of Gallbladder Surgery:

• In the majority of people removal of the gall bladder and gall stones prevents the painful symptoms that were caused by gall stones.
• Gall stones may cause pancreatitis or yellow jaundice and removal usually prevents these from occurring.
• Gallbladder surgery can halt the advancement of gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease can eventually lead to complications such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and infection of the gallbladder. The removal of the gallbladder may reduce these complications.
• Gallbladder surgery can help stop the progression of gall stones and gallbladder disease.
• Removing the gallbladder is beneficial because it stops pain caused by swelling of the gallbladder and gallstones and prevents the gallbladder from bursting, which can be fatal.

Gallbladder Surgery Risks:

The overall risk of gallbladder surgery is very low. The most serious possible complications include:

• Infection of an incision
• Injury to the small intestine by one of the instruments used during surgery
• Risks of general anesthesia

Alternatives to Gallbladder Surgery:

Non-surgical treatments may be used to treat gallstones in cases where you have a serious medical condition that would prevent surgery. Some drugs can be used to dissolve stones. Open and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is considered among some of the safest surgical procedures because of improved surgical technique, better anesthesia, and management of coexisting diseases. Fortunately, the gallbladder is an organ that people can live without.

Gallbladder Surgery in India:

Patients from all over the world prefer India as the medical tourism destination for many reasons. India has become a medical tourism hub because of its low cost treatment option and other benefits. Those include:

• India is a country deserving of its reputation for cleanliness, order and its ultra-high standard of private medical care.
• Medical staff here invariably speaks a high standard of English and the healthcare infrastructure is easily comparable with that of western countries.
• Since India’s prices are still around one fourth of what US clinics charge for the same procedures, it’s understandable that some 200,000 visitors flock here every year in search of medical, cosmetic and dental treatment.
• India is a highly urbanized, orderly and spotless country so medical tourists can avoid the chaotic environment which is typical to some Asian countries.
• There are several JCI-certified hospitals and healthcare facilities in India.
• Non-stop or single-stop flights are available from various destinations to India through the Indian Airlines and other international airlines.

There are major cities in India that offer Gallbladder surgery in India are :

Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in India:

For some of the U.S. and U.K. patients, the prospect of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the U.S. and U.K. means a hefty sheaf of bills to pay. In such cases, patients can opt to go in for laparoscopic gallbladder repair surgery in India.

The cost for gallbladder removal comes at a fraction of the costs that are charged in the U.S. and U.K. We can provide you with a gallbladder removal package from $4,500 to $6,000.

This package includes hospital stay, laboratory tests, anesthesia, operation theater fees, and the doctor's fees, ride to and from the hospital, ride to and from the recovery center, and medications.

Gallbladder Surgery in India- Consult Indian Healthguru Group:

• Indian Healthguru Group is the leading medical tourism company in India. We help international patients getting the treatment done in India by providing round the clock services that too at low cost.
• For consulting us you just have to send a detailed query regarding the Gallbladder surgery and one of the assistants will contact you within 24 hr and he/she will help you according to your convenience for getting the procedure done in India.
• You don’t have to worry about the arrangement as all the arrangements will be done on your behalf like accommodation, travelling, VISA, appointment with the doctor and everything that is related to your surgery.
• You will have a great experience with us for getting Gallbladder surgery done in India.

Some of the common countries from which patients travel to India for surgery are: