$Unique_ID{BRK01185}
$Pretitle{Digestive System}
$Title{A New Procedure for Removing Gallstones}
$Subject{gallstones removal non-surgical}
$Volume{I-9}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


A New Procedure for Removing Gallstones


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QUESTION:  Recently a friend told me of a new procedure for removing
gallstones that didn't involve major surgery.  She didn't have the details
down too good.  Something about a one inch incision near the belly button and
a tube inserted to suck out the gall bladder or stones and that the patient
only had to stay overnight at the hospital.  Can you give me some real
information about this?  I'd appreciate it very much.

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ANSWER:  Certainly.  Here's the real inside story, but hold on to your hat,
the name of this new surgical procedure is a doozy.  It called "laser assisted
laparoscopic cholecystectomy" and as you indicated removes the diseased gall
bladder through a small incision made in the patient's navel (or "belly
button") instead of the large incision in the abdomen that is used for
standard gall bladder surgery.  It must be performed under general anesthesia
and takes about one hour to perform.  Actually there are four, small one inch
incisions needed to perform the procedure.  Bedsides the one at the naval,
another is made beneath the breastbone, and two more below the ribs.  Through
these incisions, the surgeon will place the laser, used to cut the gall
bladder away from the liver, and the "laparoscope", an instrument which
permits the physician to see what is going on.  The other incisions or cuts
are needed to insert instruments which can grab on to, and move the gall
bladder about.  Although standard gall bladder surgery is safe and effective,
the larger incision (about 4 to 6 inches) causes greater pain and requires
both a longer hospital stay, and a longer time to heal after surgery.  With
this new procedure, the patient is out of the hospital and back to work in
about a week's time.  However there are still situations in which the standard
operation is preferable, when previous operations may have left adhesions and
scars that make additional surgery more difficult to perform, or when a
gallstone is blocking the tubes leading from the gall bladder to the small
intestine.  If you have a personal need, you may want to check with your local
hospital to see if they are equipped to perform this newly developed
operation.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
