SOURCE: slp3D

June 13, 2007 16:34 ET

ORLive Presents: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, a Minimally Invasive Procedure for Gall Bladder Removal; Patients Have Less Pain and Quicker Recovery

Live Webcast: From Bon Secours St. Francis Health System: July 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM EDT (21:00 UTC)

GREENVILLE, SC--(Marketwire - June 13, 2007) - On Monday July 16, 2007, at 5:00pm EDT, surgeons at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, South Carolina will perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy during a live internet webcast on www.OR-Live.com.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the procedure to remove the gallbladder. It is a fairly routine surgery with more than 500,000 procedures performed in the United States each year. Gallstones are usually the cause of problems that lead to the removal of the gallbladder. These are small hard masses containing cholesterol and bile salts that can block the normal flow of bile from the gall bladder. This can result in severe abdominal pain, nausea, indigestion and sometimes fever and jaundice.

Surgical removal of the gall bladder is the most common way to treat symptomatic gallstones. In a laparoscopic procedure, a miniature video camera is inserted into abdomen through a small incision. The surgeon can view the images from the camera on a video monitor and then uses special narrow instruments that are inserted through other small incisions. The gall bladder is removed through one of these incisions. Patients usually have less pain and faster recovery with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy than an open procedure where a larger incision is necessary. Patients may go home the day after surgery or even the same day. Normal activities can usually be resumed in about a week, including driving, walking up stairs, light lifting and working.

Visit: http://www.or-live.com/bonsecours/1884 now to learn more and view a program preview. VNR http://www.or-live.com/rams/bse-1884-mkw-q.ram