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Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Removal now available
Gall Bladder Removal
Gall bladder mucocele (GBM) is becoming increasingly commonly diagnosed in canine patients.
The decision to remove the affected gall bladder is usually straight forward if the patient is showing clinical signs that will be improved following surgery. However, if the animal is not currently showing any obvious symptoms it can be harder to opt for surgery, as owners may be concerned about the risk of postoperative complications.
Left untreated, gall bladder disease can progress to either obstructing the bile ducts or even rupture, leading to biliary peritonitis. A recent study (Frieson 2021) showed that the mortality risk for elective gall bladder removal is approximately a quarter that of non-elective surgery, so there is a strong case for offering early surgical intervention in these cases.
Laparoscopic Surgery now available
Although removal of a gall bladder (cholecystectomy) is most often performed via an open surgical approach, it is now possible to remove gall bladders using laparoscopy using very similar techniques to those used in humans.
The advantages of this technique include:
- Smaller wound size
- Increased patient comfort
- Quicker recovery and return to normal activity
Not all cases of GBM are suitable for laparoscopy. Our team of experienced surgeons would be happy to discuss the suitability of any potential case with you and we are happy to offer either keyhole or open surgical approaches to managing gall bladder disease here at Eastcott Veterinary Referrals.
Our Soft Tissue Specialists – here to help
We therefore recommend laparoscopic surgery for cases in which gall bladder disease may have been found incidentally but where there are concerns that, if left, the disease could progress and cause significant disease.
At Eastcott our experienced team of surgeons would be happy to discuss suitability of any cases that you may feel would benefit from either open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy.