GALLBLADDER REMOVAL (CHOLECYSTECTOMY)

What is a cholecystectomy?

A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that is part of the digestive system and lies beneath the liver on your right side. It stores bile, which is a fluid produced by the liver to help to digest fats. Particles in the bile may form gallstones.

When is it used?

When you have pain and swelling of the gallbladder, a problem often caused by gallstones, your healthcare provider may recommend removal of the gallbladder.

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Allow for time to rest. Try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties for the first couple of days after surgery.

Follow your health care provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Also, your wounds will heal much better if you do not smoke after the surgery.

If you need a minor pain reliever in the week before surgery, choose acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. This helps avoid extra bleeding during surgery. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it before your surgery.

Follow any other instructions your provider gives you. The night before the procedure, eat a light meal such as soup and salad. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight and the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.

How is it done?

In most cases a laparoscope is used to remove the gallbladder. A laparoscope is a thin metal tube with a light and tiny camera. Your provider can put the scope through a tiny cut in your belly and see your gallbladder. Your provider can then use another tool, such as a laser, to remove the gallbladder.

If there is too much infection, scarring, or cancer, open surgery may be needed instead of laparoscopic surgery. This means the doctor makes a larger cut in your abdomen and then removes the gallbladder through the cut.

Before either type of operation you will be given anesthesia to prevent you from feeling pain during the operation.

What happens after the procedure?

You will stay in the hospital for 1 to 6 days, based on your condition and the type of procedure you have. You may be quite sore for a while. Pain medicine will be given to help with the pain. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for taking care of yourself as you recover.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your health care provider.
You may have infection or bleeding.
The common bile duct or another nearby organ may be damaged. You may need further surgery for repairs of the damage.
The bile may leak. To correct this, your provider may put in a drainage tube.
You may have pain in your shoulder from the carbon dioxide used to inflate your abdominal cavity.

You should ask your health care provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call my health care provider?

Call your provider right away if:

You develop a fever.
You have bleeding.
You have a foul-smelling wound.
You have severe pain.
You have nausea or vomiting.

Call your provider during office hours if:

You have questions about the procedure or its result.
You want to make another appointment.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File DIG4015F.HTM Release 9.0/2006