Tag: cholecysectomy

Cholecystectomy is a surgery to remove the gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ located directly under the liver on the right side of the abdomen. Bile accumulates in the gallbladder – a liquid formed in the liver, which takes part in the digestion process. Distinguish between emergency cholecystectomy and cholecystectomy performed routinely (during remission, in the absence of symptoms).

Indications for Removal of the Gallbladder

Cholecystectomy is performed for cholecystitis and gallstone disease to remove gallstones and combat the complications they cause. The attending physician may recommend surgery in the following cases:

• Chronic calculous cholecystitis (gallstones, cholelithiasis)
• Polyps and cholesterosis of the gallbladder;
• Stones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
• Inflammation of the gallbladder (acalculous cholecystitis)
• Asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis (no symptoms in the presence of gallstones)

Cholecystectomy performed routinely is a fairly simple operation that rarely entails complications. In most cases, the patient can go home 1-2 days after the surgery.

Removal of the gallbladder on an urgent basis is carried out with an immediate threat to the patient’s life when the complications of cholecystitis that have arisen make attempts to achieve stable stabilization of the patient’s general condition unpromising:

• with peritonitis;
• gangrenous cholecystitis;
• perforation of the gallbladder wall

Complications of Cholecystectomy

There is a very low likelihood of the following complications:

• Leakage of bile
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Death
• Air embolism
• The occurrence of heart problems
• Infection of the postoperative wound
• Damage to nearby organs: bile duct, liver, and small intestine
• Pancreatitis
• Pneumonia

The risk of complications depends on your overall health and the causes of cholecystitis. The risk of complications with urgent cholecystectomy is higher than when the operation is performed routinely.

What to Do After Cholecystectomy

Prepare in advance for postoperative recovery. Most people go home the day after having a cholecystectomy, but complications can lengthen the hospital stay. In some cases, the surgeon has to make an incision in the abdominal wall to remove the gallbladder.

The patient in this case will have to stay in the hospital for a longer period. It is not always possible to say exactly how the operation will proceed. If you have to stay in the hospital longer, you should immediately take your personal belongings with you, for example, a toothbrush, comfortable clothes, books or magazines, so that you don’t get bored.

Make an appointment with someone to drive you home after discharge and to look after you. Ask a friend or family member to drive you home and stay with you the first night after surgery. Thanks to the cholecystectomy, the pain, and discomfort caused by the gallstones will disappear. Conservative treatment such as dietary changes does not prevent gallstones. Cholecystectomy is the only way to prevent gallstones from forming.…