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Cholecystectomy
Removal of gall bladder is called
cholecystectomy. The most common indication is presnce
of gall stones. It is also done in cases of gall bladder
cancer, but surgery in these cases is more extensive.
Moreover, only few patients in our country present
at a stage when gall bladder can be removed to cure
them of disease.
Not all patients with gall stones
require surgery. It has been found that almost
98% patients who donot have symptoms remain so throughout
their lives. Hence, gallstones in these patients are
not treated. In minority of patients with gall stones,
who develop symptoms due to blockade of cystic duct
or those who develop pancreatitis, an inflammation
of pancreas, are required to undergo cholecystectomy.
Rarely gall stones slip from gall bladder into the
common bile duct, resulting in pain, fever or jaundice.
These CBD stones are removed endoscopically by method
known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP)
or by putting needle through skin (percutaneous transhepatic
cholangiography) or by surgery. These patients also
undergo cholecystectomy before or after removal of
CBD stones.
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