Gallbladder Surgery Specialist

What is gallbladder surgery?

Gallbladder surgery is a procedure that removes your gallbladder –– a small, pear-shaped organ that helps you digest food. If your gallbladder doesn’t work as it should, or your bile (a fluid the gallbladder produces) gets out of balance, Dr. Lamb might recommend gallbladder surgery to reduce the risk of complications.

Who needs gallbladder surgery?

You might be a candidate for gallbladder surgery if you regularly experience abdominal pain and you have gallstones or polyps in the gallbladder, that are often found on ultrasound. 

This abdominal pain can be intermittent or constant and sometimes interferes with your ability to work or exercise. That’s especially true if the pain occurs on the upper right side of your stomach.

If you were seen in an emergency room or primary care doctor’s office, for abdominal pain and diagnosed with gallstones then you should be evaluated for gallbladder surgery. Abdominal pain and gallstones is the number one indication for gallbladder surgery.

Make an appointment with Dr. Lamb if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain and gallstones
• Abdominal pain and gallbladder polyps
• Abdominal pain and abdominal bloating after meals
• Nausea and vomiting

You should also make an appointment with Dr. Lamb if you regularly experience abdominal pain after eating.

What happens during a gallbladder surgery consultation?

A gallbladder surgery consultation begins with Dr. Lamb reviewing your medical history and asking about your symptoms, including where the pain occurs, if it spreads into other parts of your body, and if it's worse after eating meals or snacks.

Next, Dr. Lamb does an abdominal ultrasound. Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to capture real-time photos of your internal organs. An ultrasound can identify the presence of gallstones and help Dr. Lamb develop a custom treatment plan.

If you have gallstones, Dr. Lamb explains how they developed, why they cause you pain, what complications might arise, and how surgery can help. She even draws pictures to ensure you understand everything. Then, she promptly schedules your procedure, so you don’t have to remain in pain.

What does gallbladder surgery involve?

Dr. Lamb performs gallbladder surgery at a hospital or a surgical facility. Before the procedure begins, she administers general anesthesia, putting you to sleep.

Once you’re comfortable, Dr. Lamb makes a small incision in your abdomen, just above your gallbladder. She then inserts a laparoscope –– a thin tube with a light and a high-definition camera on the end –– into the incision.

Dr. Lamb inserts special tools through the laparoscope and removes your diseased organ. Then, she stitches the incision closed and moves you to a recovery room for observation. The procedure takes one to two hours, and you can go home afterward.

What is recovery like after gallbladder surgery?

After laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, it takes about two or three weeks to heal. Even though you can return home after the procedure, you might need to take several days off work. Take your medication as prescribed and make sure to attend each follow-up appointment. 

To learn more about gallbladder surgery, make an appointment at the practice of Dr. Melinda Nicole Lamb MD by calling the office or booking online today.