Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder – Charlotte, North Carolina

The gallbladder is a 3-4 inch fluid filled organ that is located in the right upper abdomen below the liver. Its function is to store bile that the liver produces. At mealtime the gallbladder pumps the stored bile into the intestine for digestion.

The gallbladder can cause pain if stones form in it. Risk factors for getting gallstones are:

  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Female gender
  • Diabetes
  • Rapid weight loss

Symptoms of gallbladder attacks are:

  • Pain in the right upper abdomen
  • Pain radiating to the back or right shoulder
  • Bloating and gas in the upper abdomen
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Worsening symptoms after foods that are fatty, greasy, or fried

Gallstones can be detected by an ultrasound of the abdomen. The surgeons at Carolina
Surgical specialize in removing the gallbladder with a minimally invasive laparoscopic
technique, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The procedures are typically performed as an
outpatient in under 30 minutes. This approach leaves smaller scars, and allows for a quicker
recovery and less pain.