Gall Bladder Removal

Alternate Names : Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

What happens later at home?

Once at home, the individual can expect to be tired for several days to a few weeks. This is true for either type of operation. Most people find it easier to eat small meals of bland food for the first few days. Eventually, they will be able to return to a normal diet. Often, people find that they can eat things that caused discomfort before the surgery. The body compensates well for not having a gallbladder.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

The biggest potential problem from gallbladder surgery is injury to the bile ducts. The area where the cystic duct comes together with the common bile duct is the place where the cutting is done. There can be infection and scarring from gallbladder disease in this region. Inability to easily see this area is the main reason that surgeons switch to an open technique from a laparoscopic approach.

There are few complications after cholecystectomy. Infection at the incision site is rare. Some people will have loose bowel movements for a few weeks. This is because more bile reaches the large bowel than before the operation. It has an irritating effect. This problem goes away once the body has adapted to the change. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.