Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery in medicine today is done laparoscopically and is referred to as a “cholecystectomy” and takes out the gallbladder as well as the gallstones. This is done thru a number of incisions in the abdomen that are very small. The surgeon inflates the abdomen with carbon dioxide or air so the area of operation can have a clear field of vision.

This surgery might be needed if an individual has pain from gallstones that are blocking the flow of bile. The surgery is very common and carries only a slight risk of complications.

The surgeon introduces a scope with a light attached to a small video camera into an incision close to the belly button. The instrument is called a “laparoscope” and this will allow the surgeon to use a video monitor to guide the insertion of other surgical devices into the other openings and to take out the gallbladder.

Prior to the removal of the gallbladder, a distinct x-ray process called an “intraoperative cholangiography” is done to analyze the bile ducts.

The surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia and normally lasts two (2) hours or even less.

Following surgery, bile runs from the liver where it is formed thru the common bile duct to the small intestine. Since the gallbladder has been taken out, the body does not have the ability to store bile between the consumption of food. In the majority of individuals who have had this surgery there is little to no influence on normal digestion.

There are a few gallbladder surgeries, where the surgeon might need to change to the surgical technique that needs a larger opening. There are several problems that might require switching to the open surgery and those can include:

• Inflammation that is unexpected
• Injury
• Bleeding
• Scar tissue

Gallbladder Surgery Recovery Time

Gallbladder surgery can be done as an outpatient or the individual may need to stay one (1) or two (2) days in the hospital.

After a gallbladder surgery the individual might experience:

• Pain in the abdomen and shoulder that can last for twenty-four (24) to seventy-two (72) hours from the air or gas that inflated the surgical region during surgery. It might even last up to a week.
• Muscle aches that are widespread from the anesthesia
• Minor drainage or inflammation at the incision sites
• Diarrhea
• Some nausea with appetite loss

The majority of individuals usually may return to normal daily activities in seven (7) to ten (10) days. Individuals who have laparoscopic surgery are normally sore for approximately a week. In two (2) to (3) weeks there is little discomfort except in the cases where individuals have had open surgery.

Gallbladder Surgery Diet

There is not a specific diet for individuals to follow after having the gallbladder removed due to the fact that guidelines normally depend on the individual.

When the gall bladder is taken out, bile is less intense and it flows nonstop into the intestine. This will affect the breakdown of fat as well as fat-soluble vitamins. How much of a problem will be different from individual to individual. Over time, the body will become better and adjust to consuming fatty foods.

That fat amount that is eaten at any one time needs to be a factored into this situation. Quantities of fat that are small are much easier to digest. Large amounts may stay undigested and produce bloating, diarrhea and gas.

General advice to avoid problems after having the gallbladder removed includes:

• Eat smaller but more numerous meals. This ensures a good blend with available bile.
• Eat small quantities of lean protein, for instance fish, nonfat dairy and poultry, at each meal, together with vegetables, whole grains and fruits.
• Go slow on fats. Sidestep high-fat foods, greasy and fried foods, gravies and fatty sauces. Rather, consume nonfat or low-fat foods.
• Begin reading labels to look for food with three (3) grams of fat or even less per serving.

Increase the amount of fiber in the diet gradually. This will aid the normalizing of bowel movements by the reduction of incidents of constipation or diarrhea. But, it also can make cramping and gas worse. The best tactic is to increase slowly fiber amount in the diet over a number of weeks.

Understand that after this surgery some individuals find that the below are harder to digest:

• Dairy products
• Caffeinated beverages

Speak with your physician if the symptoms do not diminish, are severe, continue over time or if there is loss of weight and the patient becomes weak.

Gallbladder Surgery Complications

Even though being performed widely as well as being regarded as a predictable and straightforward surgical procedure by individuals, laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder can be very difficult to complete in some situations.

There are numerous means that cause damage to the intestines that might occur with this procedure. The gallbladder is a sac-like organ that hangs from a structure of ducts starting at the liver going to the duodenum.

Directly next to the gallbladder is the “hepatic flexure” colon. When the gallbladder is inflamed, the gallbladder walls as well as the surrounding tissues become swollen and red and the regular tissue planes become buried; especially if there have been recurrent attacks of gallbladder inflammation.

In other words, “everything gets stuck together” especially the colon and gallbladder.

While taking out the gallbladder one of the initial steps is to peel the colon off the gallbladder wall that is underlying – without gashing the colon wall while doing it. Now, holes in the colon that are large are easy to find, but perforations which are smaller especially in a mass of tissue that is inflamed, are easy to miss.

The second way for the colon to get injured is unintentionally puncturing it with a dissecting or retractor instrument. If this happens it is usually when the tissue is being gently pulled off of the cystic duct. The colon can get “poked” by the end of the retractor.

The third way that can injure the colon is by a burn from the Bovie electrocautery that is used to halt localized bleeding from the tissues. This type injury might cause a delayed reaction and it is not uncommon that individuals re-enter the hospital with colon injury after having been discharged home.