Why the gallbladder is removed
- Repeated attacks of gallstone pain
- Inflammation or infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
- Gallstone pancreatitis, after it settles
- Gallbladder polyps above a certain size
- A poorly functioning gallbladder causing symptoms
How the operation is done
Under general anesthesia, the abdomen is gently inflated with carbon dioxide. A small camera is inserted near the belly button, and slim instruments are placed through several small incisions in the upper abdomen. The gallbladder is carefully separated from the liver, its duct and artery are sealed, and it is removed through one of the incisions.
Occasionally, inflammation or scar tissue makes it safer to convert to an open operation through a larger incision. This is a safety decision, not a complication, and it is discussed in advance.
Talk with Dr. Arsenous about your options.
Before surgery
You will need nothing to eat or drink after midnight, or as instructed. Tell us about all medications, especially blood thinners and diabetes medicines. Arrange for someone to drive you home.
Recovery
Most patients go home a few hours after surgery. Soreness at the incisions and shoulder-tip pain from the gas are common for a day or two. Many people return to desk work within about a week and to full activity within two weeks, with heavier lifting avoided a little longer.
Some people have looser stools or notice that very fatty meals are harder to digest for a few weeks. Reintroducing rich foods gradually helps. See our guide to eating after gallbladder removal.
Call the office or seek care for fever, worsening abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, persistent vomiting, or redness and drainage at an incision.