Safe & Effective Gallbladder Surgery
Gallbladder Disease Treatment
What is the Gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ positioned under the liver in the upper right portion of the abdomen.
It acts as a reservoir for bile, which is produced by the liver and helps to digest dietary fat.
Bile is made of water, cholesterol, biliary salts, and biliary acids and is a substance that is required to dissolve fat during digestion.
The liver produces about one liter of bile a day and the gallbladder serves as a small storage container for a small fraction of the bile produced daily. This extra bile is released by the gallbladder to aid in digestion during especially fatty meals.
Gallbladder disease is usually caused by the presence of gallstones. Gallstones are stones that form from the liquid in the gallbladder.
They range in size from very tiny to the size of a golf ball. If a gallstone blocks the entrance to the bile duct, it can cause pain in the upper right belly, which is known as a gallbladder attack.
Dr. Yusuf Palkhi, a top-rated general surgeon in Mombasa, Kenya stays up-to-date on emerging medical treatments to ensure his patients get the most effective care for gallstones and to help patients live happier, healthier lives.
Gallbladder Disease Care in Mombasa, Kenya
Specialized care for you
If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms such as a sensation of indigestion, jaundice, or would just like more information, please make an appointment to see our physician right away for a thorough consultation, evaluation, and examination by a physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
With gallbladder treatment in Kenya at KLASS, you will be able to lead full, active lives. At Kenya Laparoscopic Surgery Services, our goal is to provide comprehensive individualized care for all patients with gallstones or gallbladder disease.
At KLASS, our practitioners are well-versed in the diagnosis and management of the gallbladder. Schedule a consultation with our top-rated general surgeon – Dr. Yusuf Palkhi in Mombasa, Kenya to learn more and get the care, treatment, and support you deserve.
What are the symptoms of gallbladder disease?
The symptoms of gallstones can vary, but generally the patient will feel pain in the upper, right quadrant of the abdomen where the gallbladder is located.
Other symptoms may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin, urine, and eyes), or acute inflammation of the pancreas.
Gallstones may also cause subtler symptoms, such as a sensation of indigestion, bloating, or nausea, especially after eating fatty foods.
Once gallstones begin to cause symptoms, most people benefit from having removal of the gallbladder with its gallstones is recommended.
What are the causes of gallbladder problems?
Gallstones may result when:
- Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your liver excretes more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve, the excess cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones.
- Your bile contains too much bilirubin, a chemical that’s produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and certain blood disorders. The excess bilirubin contributes to gallstone formation.
- Your gallbladder doesn’t empty correctly. If your gallbladder doesn’t empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated, contributing to the formation of gallstones.
What are the risk factors for gallbladder disease?
Factors that may increase your risk of gallstones include:
- Women are more susceptible to gallstones than men, and gallstones most commonly occur when people are in their 40s and 50s.
- Taking medications that contain estrogen, such as oral contraceptives or hormone therapy drugs.
- Obesity, the diet associated with being overweight as well as weight-loss also cause gallstones to develop.
- Having a family history of gallstones.
- Eating a high-cholesterol and high-fat diet.
Prevention of gallbladder problems?
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of gallbladder disease. Work to achieve a healthy weight by reducing the number of calories you eat and increasing the amount of physical activity you get. Once you achieve a healthy weight, work to maintain that weight by continuing your healthy diet, and continuing to exercise.
- Don’t skip meals. Try to stick to your usual mealtimes each day. Skipping meals or fasting can increase the risk of gallstones.
- Lose weight slowly. If you need to lose weight, go slow. Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones. Aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds (about 0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week.
How is Gallbladder Disease Diagnosed?
How is Gallbladder Disease Treated?
Most people with gallstones that don’t cause symptoms will never need treatment. Your doctor will determine if treatment for gallstones is indicated based on your symptoms and the results of diagnostic testing.
Treatment options include:
- Medications to dissolve gallstones. Medications you take by mouth may help dissolve gallstones. But it may take months or years of treatment to dissolve your gallstones in this way and gallstones will likely form again if treatment is stopped.
- Sometimes medications don’t work. Medications for gallstones aren’t commonly used and are reserved for people who can’t undergo surgery.
- Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder since gallstones frequently recur. Once your gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from your liver into your small intestine, rather than being stored in your gallbladder.
How is Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Performed?
When severe obstruction of the gallbladder occurs, removal is the only option. If surgery is the form of treatment your doctor recommends, physicians at Kenya Laparoscopic Surgical Services who specialize in this procedure can determine if laparoscopic surgery is appropriate for you.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an advanced, minimally-invasive procedure that may be necessary if you are experiencing gallstones or inflammation, infection, blockage of the gallbladder.
As earlier indicated, removing the gallbladder is the preferred treatment for the majority of people who have gallstones that cause symptoms. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy requires several small incisions in the abdomen to allow the insertion of surgical instruments and a small video camera.
Typically, this surgery is done at KLASS as an outpatient procedure using laparoscopic techniques, with four small abdominal incisions, none larger than an inch.
Removal of the gallbladder may be done as an outpatient procedure, or it may require a short stay in the hospital, generally not more than one night.
Patients who have had gallbladder surgery can generally return to most normal activities after about two weeks, and frequently sooner.
If the laparoscopic procedure is not successful, an open cholecystectomy is performed whereby a single, larger incision is made in your tummy to access and remove your gallbladder.
Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Possible complications may include bleeding, infection, and injury to the duct (tube) that carries bile from your gallbladder to your stomach.
Also during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the intestines or major blood vessels may be injured when the instruments are inserted into the abdomen. All of these complications are rare but still possible when performed.
Are there long-term effects of gallbladder removal?
You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder, your liver will continue to produce enough bile to digest a normal diet after you have surgery.
You may notice you’re having more bowel movements than usual and that their consistency is less solid. These symptoms usually lessen over time.
It is normal to have a self-limited change in digestive habits that is unrelated to your type of operation and will improve over time. Some patients however find that diarrhea remains a problem, and a ‘heart-healthy’ diet or one that is low in rich, fatty foods alleviates the problem.
Your Laparoscopy Procedure With Dr. Yusuf Palkhi
Comprehensive & convenient health care
Dr. Yusuf Palkhi was one of the first surgeons in Mombasa to introduce minimally invasive surgical procedures in Mombasa town to help individuals who were in need of laparoscopic general surgical procedures.
He is committed to improving the lifestyles of individuals residing in Mombasa to help them take back control of their lives without the need to travel far for such procedures.
Together with his expert surgical team in Mombasa, Kenya they provide the highest level of holistic surgical care to individuals, ensuring that they meet their individual health needs.
He is keen on ensuring that majority of people have access to expert, world-class care and expertise that is both affordable and accommodating to their needs and life goals.
Dr. Yusuf Palkhi, a laparoscopic surgeon in Mombasa, Kenya specializes in helping individuals who ail from the appendix, gallbladder, reflux, hernia repairs, colon, pancreas, spleen, and emergency abdominal surgeries.
He is also very passionate about helping individuals regain control of their lives through bariatric weight loss procedures.
Our Affiliations
[logocarousel id=”4962″]
Reserve An Appointment
Should you wish to book your appointment online, Our Doctors Calendar is available to you, Simply head over to Reserve your Appointment and view the doctors available times where we can be able to help you