Gall Bladder Removal ?s

[erparamedic]

Good to hear Jenny. Just FYI, the nuclear test that you had was probably a hidascan. They inject you with the nuclear stuff, tehn wait a time period, take the scan... then you eat something, wait an hour, then scan again. Does that sound familiar?

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
and a laser to remove the gall bladder.
..snip..

Is it really a laser nowadays?
Mine was taken out about 4 years ago and I have the film. They used a cauterizing pincer to do the cutting. I don't understand how a laser could be used to do the same thing without risk of collateral damage to the tissues behind the bladder as the cuts are made.
Or does the device include some sort of back shield?
Anyone got a recent film?

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Good to hear Jenny. Just FYI, the nuclear test that you had was probably a hidascan. They inject you with the nuclear stuff, tehn wait a time period, take the scan... then you eat something, wait an hour, then scan again. Does that sound familiar?

no food. But I recall fasting from the night before. Yes, they injected me with something, waited an hour then injected me with something else. A half hour later I was good to go. Testing over. I had to lay on an incredibly hard and cold table and was connected to a scanner. It almost looked like an open MRI type thing.

 

[BillP]

....with the results of the pipida test (is that one nucelar, 'cause I had a nuclear...

Just FYI, the nuclear test that you had was probably a hidascan.

HIDA and PIPIDA are acronyms for 2 isotopes that are used for nuclear imaging of the biliary system. DECIDA is another isotope. Could have been any of these, but it doesn't really matter. HIDA seems to me to be more common term used these days when ordering the studies, but the nuclear imaging department would have used the isotope that they felt most appropriate.

Is it really a laser nowadays?
Mine was taken out about 4 years ago and I have the film. They used a cauterizing pincer to do the cutting. I don't understand how a laser could be used to do the same thing without risk of collateral damage to the tissues behind the bladder as the cuts are made.

Your instincts are very good, Mike:luxhello:. Either the laser or the radio frequency electrocautery can be used to remove the gallbladder. They pretty much do the same thing, but the cautery is less expensive, doesn't require the surgeon to wear colored glasses, doesn't require a special "laser safety officer" in the room, might have less "collateral damage" as you suggest, etc. The laser was very popular early on with the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery (probably due to its "gee-whiz" factor, IMNSHO) but almost all surgeons that I know have abandoned it for the cautery. It's still fine for a surgeon use the laser if that's what they prefer though.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Well i will let you all know how i am doing as soon as i can get back to my computer. Thanks for all the encouraging words they do help.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Well I am now home on friday. Sore but it is done. It took longer that expected cause i quit breathing ten different times on them. Now i have to go through sleep
apnia(sp?) testing. thank God they were able to do it with the scope. Now i have about six week till bonaire. Thank you everyone for everything. If anyone has any questions about what i went through ask away, i'll try and provide any info i can for you.

 

[DandyDon]

It took longer that expected cause i quit breathing ten different times on them.

Hey! You're not supposed to do that...!

Glad it went well for you otherwise, as expected. Best wishes on a problem free recovery; follow the doc's orders...!!!

 

[erparamedic]

Aaron... breathing is a good thing! Don't stop! Glad all other aspects of surgery went well. Just curious... did you have the apnic episodes in recovery? It might have been the result too much anesthesia or pain meds.

Anyway... I hope it's figured out soon and you're back to diving!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Glad to hear your surgury went well. Good luck on the recovery.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Aaron... breathing is a good thing! Don't stop! Glad all other aspects of surgery went well. Just curious... did you have the apnic episodes in recovery? It might have been the result too much anesthesia or pain meds.

Anyway... I hope it's figured out soon and you're back to diving!

No it was during the surgery that i actually stopped. In recovery when on the breating thing in my nose (oxygen i think) when i would fall asleep within a few minutes i would slow down and the machine would beep. The surgeon recommended i go in for sleep apneia (sp?) testing, and that i would probably need a machine to sleep with.