To the right of your abdomen, directly beneath your liver, there’s a small pear-shaped organ known as your gallbladder. It sits there holding bile, a digestive fluid that is released into your small intestine. Sometimes you may develop a hardened deposit known as a gallstone. These can vary in size and number. Show
What is gallbladder removal surgery?Gallbladder removal surgery is known as a cholecystectomy. This isn’t a surgery that most doctors will rush into. While it’s a common surgery, it’s still major surgery with some serious risks and complications. However, in most cases, you’ll go home the same day as you’ve had the surgery. There are two types of gallbladder removal surgery: laparoscopic and open cholecystectomies.
What risks accompany gallbladder removal?As with any surgery, a cholecystectomy has certain risks. Some of the risks that accompany this surgery include:
Whether you’ll experience any of these complications will depend on the general state of your overall health. The reason why you’re having a cholecystectomy will also factor in here. How do you recover from this surgery?How long it’ll take you to recover from a cholecystectomy will depend on whether you had a laparoscopic or open procedure. If you’ve had a laparoscopic procedure, you should be able to leave the hospital on the same day as you had your operation. Gallbladder removal recovery will then be somewhat of a speedy process. You should return to your normal activities within two weeks after the operation. If you have open surgery, you should plan to stay in the hospital for three to five days. You should also realize that your recovery time will take longer. It may take anywhere from 6 and 8 weeks before you’ll be able to return to your normal activities. Regardless of the type of surgery you have, you won’t be able to drive afterward, so you should arrange for someone to take you home from the hospital. It’s a good idea to also have this person stay with you for 24 hours if you go home the same day as you had your surgery because you may still be feeling the effects of anesthesia. When is gallbladder removal surgery necessary?If your gallstones do not cause any symptoms, then there’s no need to treat them. However, if you do experience symptoms, you may need to have your gallbladder removed. Some of the symptoms you may experience when you have gallstones include:
Doctors don’t typically rush to remove your gallbladder. They’ll wait to see if you have more than one attack. However, surgery is the best way to prevent future attacks. If you do need surgery and you’re located near San Francisco, California, BASS Medical Group can help. Their elite team is made up of doctors who are experts in their respective fields. Call (925) 350-4044 to learn more or schedule an appointment. Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile, the fluid that helps digest food. If it’s not working the way it should (or your bile gets out of balance), hard fragments start to form. These can be as small as a grain of rice or as big as a golf ball. Gallstones don’t go away on their own. If they start to hurt or cause other symptoms, your doctor may decide to remove your gallbladder. This type of surgery is called a cholecystectomy. It’s one of the most common surgeries doctors perform. About 80% of people who have gallstones will need surgery. Doctors can remove your gallbladder in one of two ways: Open surgery: During this procedure, your surgeon will make a 5- to 7-inch incision (cut) on your belly to take out your gallbladder. You’ll need open surgery if you have a bleeding disorder. You may also need it if you have severe gallbladder disease, are very overweight, or are in your
last trimester of pregnancy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Doctors also call this “keyhole surgery.” Your surgeon doesn’t make a big opening in your belly. Instead, they make four small cuts. They insert a very thin, flexible tube that contains a light and a tiny video camera into your belly. These help your surgeon see
your gallbladder better. Next, they’ll insert special tools to remove the diseased organ. For both types of surgery, you’ll be given general anesthesia. This means you’ll sleep through the procedure and won’t feel any pain while it’s being done. If your gallstones aren’t causing symptoms, there’s usually no need for you to have surgery. You’ll only need it if a stone goes into, or blocks, one of your bile ducts.
This causes what doctors call a “gallbladder attack.” It’s an intense, knife-like pain in your belly that can last several hours. If you have sickle cell or another blood disorder, your doctor may consider doing a cholecystectomyas a precaution, even it you don't have symptoms. If left untreated, gallstones can also lead to more serious problems, like: Before your doctor opts for surgery, they’ll run several tests to see the effect your gallstones are having on your health. Tests might include: You may be able to manage your symptoms for a short time by making changes to your diet. This includes cutting back on fatty foods. But dietary changes don’t always help prevent gallbladder attacks. If surgery isn’t an option for you, your doctor can prescribe a medication to dissolve your gallstones. But this can take
months or even years to work. And even if your gallstones do go away, there’s a chance they’ll return. You can live without your gallbladder. Your liver can make enough bile on its own. This will naturally find its way into your small intestine even if your gallbladder is removed. Doctors believe gallbladder surgery is safe, but some problems can still arise. These may include: You also run the risk of a problem
doctors call “post-cholecystectomy syndrome” (PCS). It can happen if any gallstones are left in your bile ducts or bile happens to leak into your stomach. The symptoms of PCS are similar to those of gallstones. They include belly pain, heartburn, and
diarrhea. RecoveryThe length of time it takes you to heal depends on the type of surgery you have. If you have your gallbladder removed during open surgery, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days afterward. It may take between 6 to 8 weeks for your body to heal fully. Laparoscopy is less involved, so you’ll have less pain and heal faster than if you have open surgery. Most people who have it are able to go home from the hospital the same day. You’ll likely be back to your normal routine within 2 weeks. Is a gallbladder removal major surgery?Gallbladder removal surgery is known as a cholecystectomy. This isn't a surgery that most doctors will rush into. While it's a common surgery, it's still major surgery with some serious risks and complications. However, in most cases, you'll go home the same day as you've had the surgery.
What is the downside of having gallbladder removed?When the gallbladder is removed, special clips are used to seal the tube that connects the gallbladder to the main bile duct. But bile fluid can occasionally leak out into the tummy (abdomen) after the gallbladder is removed. Symptoms of a bile leak include tummy pain, feeling sick, a fever and a swollen tummy.
What are the side effects of cholecystectomy?Bleeding. Infection. Injury to nearby structures, such as the bile duct, liver and small intestine. Risks of general anesthesia, such as blood clots and pneumonia.
Why would someone need there gallbladder removed?The main reason for having a gallbladder removed is the presence of gallstones and the complications they cause. The presence of gallstones is called cholelithiasis. Gallstones form inside the gallbladder from substances in the bile that become solid. They can be as small as a grain of sand and as large as a golf ball.
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What is it called when you have your gallbladder removed
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