Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your gall bladder.
The gallbladder is a small sac like organ in the upper right part of the abdomen, just below the on the right side. It forms part of the biliary system, which includes the liver and the pancreas. The gall bladder stores bile and digestive enzymes.
Generally cholecystectomy (gall bladder surgery) is done for the following conditions:
- Gallstones in gall bladder
- Infected gall bladder(cholecystitis)
- Cancerous
The following symptoms may occur in case of any gall bladder disease which can be treated through gall bladder surgery:
- Pain is felt usually on the right side or middle of your upper belly radiating to the back and in the tip of your right shoulder blade
- Pain maybe constant or may get worse after a heavy meal
- Nausea, vomiting, fevers, and chills.
Causes of gall bladder stone:
- Cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile is high can cause gall bladder stones.
- Liver disease or blood disease causing have high levels of bilirubin can cause stones in gall bladder.
- Poor muscle tone may keep the gallbladder from emptying completely.
- Obesity or losing a lot of weight quickly on diet therapy
- Certain medications such as birth control pills or cholesterol lowering drugs.
- Diet with large amounts of cholesterol and other fats increases the risk of gallstones
Gall bladder stone removal or gall bladder surgery:
- a) Gallstone Removal Surgery (Cholecystectomy) or Gall bladder treatment: Surgical removal of the gallbladder and is the usual treatment for symptomatic or complicated gallstones in treatment of gall stones.
The gallbladder is removed through a 3 to 6 inch incision in the right upper abdomen in this gallbladder surgery. The most common reasons for doing an open gallbladder surgery FOR Gallbladder removal is infection in the biliary tract and scars from previous surgeries. This type of gallstones surgery is performed in the operating room with the patient under general anaesthesia. A drain is placed allowing drainage of fluids or pus after surgery.
Occasionally, ERCP is done just before or during gall bladder surgery to locate any gallstones that have left the gallbladder and are located elsewhere in the biliary system. These can be removed at the same time as gallbladder stones surgery, eliminating the risk that they might cause a complication in the future
Complication of Cholecystectomy (gall bladder surgery): bleeding infection, injury, damage to liver and scarring. .
Post gall bladder removal surgery:
1) Open Cholecystectomy:
The recovery process after cholecystectomy will depend on the type of surgery and the type of anaesthesia you had. Analgesic will be given post gall bladder removal surgery and a ryles tube will put through your nose to stomach this will be removed after the bowels start working properly . The drains will be removed in a day or so after which you will be discharged. You will be asked to get out of bed a few hours after a laparoscopic procedure or by the next day after an open procedure.
2) Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Depending on your situation, you may be given liquids to drink a few hours after surgery. You will slowly be able to eat more solid foods as tolerated.
Follow-up visit with your doctor after a few weeks after surgery is advised.