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Cholecystectomy means removal of the gallbladder. The most common reasons
your doctor might recommend a cholecystectomy are biliary colic, cholecystitis,
choledocolithiasis, or gallstone pancreatitis. Biliary colic, also known as symptomatic
cholelithiasis, is caused by gallstones, which are hardened deposits of bile. Gallstones are
common in the general population, and gallstones alone are not a reason for gallbladder
removal if they do not cause symptoms. However, sometimes gallstones can get caught at the
neck of the gallbladder, causing pain when the gallbladder contracts against them trying to
release its bile, especially after a fatty meal. With biliary colic, the pain typically resolves within
an hour or so. Occasionally, a stone or some other blockage may prevent the gallbladder from
emptying over a long period of time, causing an increase in pressure and trapped fluid within the
gallbladder. This can cause inflammation and infection of the gallbladder, which we call
cholecystitis. Choledocholithiasis is when there are one or more stones in the bile ducts, which
can cause back up of bile into the liver, and depending on the location of the stones, could
cause pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Other reasons for gallbladder
removal, though less common, are gallbladder polyps and cancer. All of these are reasons for
gallbladder removal.
Central venous access is essential in providing quality medical care to many patients for whom intensive therapy is required. In many situations, a semipermanent tunneled central line is preferred (see Indications). An anterior approach to the internal jugular vein (IJV) is the best option in this situation because it offers the easiest route with a low risk of complications. In this procedure, a tunneled catheter is surgically inserted into a vein in the neck or chest and passed under the skin. Only the end of the catheter is brought through the skin; medicines and intravenous (IV) fluid can be administered through this catheter; other tasks, such as blood sampling, can also be performed. The fact that the catheter is passed under the skin helps secure the catheter, reduces the rate of infection, and permits free movement of the catheter port. The placement of a tunneled catheter should be carried out by practitioners with specific experience in the procedure.
Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical problems. One out of every 2,000 people has an appendectomy sometime during their lifetime. Treatment requires an operation to remove the infected appendix. Traditionally, the appendix is removed through an incision in the right lower abdominal wall. In most laparoscopic appendectomies, surgeons operate through 3 small incisions (each ¼ to ½ inch) while watching an enlarged image of the patient’s internal organs on a television monitor. In some cases, one of the small openings may be lengthened to complete the procedure.
This is the biggest known operation ever.The Whipple procedure(pancreatoduodenectomy) is the most common operation performed for pancreatic cancer and may be used to treat other cancers such as small bowel cancer. Surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, most of the duodenum (a part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct and sometimes a portion of the stomach. After the pancreatoduodenectomy, the surgeon reconstructs the digestive tract. At Mayo Clinic, surgeons perform more than 100 Whipple procedures annually. Patients leave the hospital in an average of 14 days.