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Cholecystectomy—Laparoscopic Surgery by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Click here to view an animated version of this procedure.

Definition

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. This procedure is most often done laparoscopically. This is done through several small incisions in the abdomen. In some cases, the doctor may switch to open surgery . This involves a large incision in the abdomen.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy vs. Open Cholecystectomy

Reasons for Procedure

This surgery is used to remove a diseased or damaged gallbladder. The damage is often due to gallstones . Sometimes, gallstones get stuck in the gallbladder's ducts. Bile, which helps with digestion, normally flows through these ducts. The blockage can damage the gallbladder and the liver.

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a cholecystectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

Gallstones that have accidentally spilled into the abdominal cavity
Bleeding
Infection
Injury to other nearby structures or organs
Reactions to general anesthesia
Blood clots

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

Age: 60 or older
Pregnancy
Obesity
Smoking
Malnutrition
Recent or chronic illness
Diabetes
Heart or lung problems
Bleeding disorders
Alcoholism and use of street drugs
Use of certain medicines

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor will probably do some or all of the following:

Blood tests to evaluate liver function
Ultrasound to visualize gallstones
HIDA scan—an x-ray test that uses a chemical injected into the gallbladder to create pictures the gallbladder and surrounding area
EKG and chest x-ray —to make sure that the heart and lungs are healthy enough for surgery
Other radiological scans

Leading up to your procedure:

Talk to your doctor about your current medicines. Certain medicines may need to be stopped before the procedure, such as:
- Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs for up to one week before surgery
- Blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure. Also, have someone help you at home.
The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
You may be given:
- Laxatives and/or an enema
- Antibiotics
If instructed, shower before the procedure.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia will be used. You will be asleep for the procedure.

Description of Procedure

Four small openings will be made in your abdomen. Carbon dioxide will be pumped in to the abdomen to provide a better view.

The laparoscope will be inserted through one of the openings. It will provide images of the gallbladder and surrounding area. Instruments will be inserted through the small openings. They will be used to grasp the gallbladder and clip off the main artery and duct. The gallbladder will be removed through one of the small openings. Dye may be injected into the duct to look for stones. The entire abdomen will be carefully examined. The incisions will be closed with sutures or staples. They will be covered with bandages.

Your doctor may place a tiny, flexible tube into the area. This tube will exit from your abdomen into a little bulb. This is to drain fluid. The tube is usually removed within one week.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be taken to a recovery room.

How Long Will It Take?

About 30-60 minutes

How Much Will It Hurt?

You will have pain after the procedure. Your doctor will give you pain medicine.

Average Hospital Stay

If you do not have any problems, you may be able to go home the same day as the surgery or the next day.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

After the procedure, the hospital staff will:

Monitor you for any problems
Give you medicines for nausea
Provide you with nutrition through an IV (if you have a tube in your stomach to drain fluid)
Help you to slowly progress from a liquid diet to soft foods

At Home

Recovery takes about three weeks. When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Follow your doctor’s instructions.
Also, follow the recommended diet and activity plan.
Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.

Your liver will take over the functions of the gallbladder. You may notice that you have more trouble digesting fatty foods, especially during the first month of recovery.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge at the incision site
Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain
Increased abdominal pain
Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
Blood in the stool
Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given, or which last for more than two days
Bloating and gas that persist for more than a month
Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or blood in the urine
Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
Dark urine, light stools, or evidence of jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Gastroenterological Association http://www.gastro.org/
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology http://www.cag-acg.org/
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation http://www.cdhf.ca/

References:

About cholecystectomy: surgical removal of the gallbladder. American College of Surgeons. Medem website. Available at: http://www.medem.com/ . Accessed July 11, 2008.
Cholecystectomy. American College of Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.facs.org/public_info/operation/cholesys.pdf . Accessed November 10, 2011.
Clayton ES, Connor S, Alexakis N, Leandros E. Meta-analysis of endoscopy and surgery versus surgery alone for common bile duct stones with the gallbladder in situ . Br J Surg. 2006;93:1185-91.
Gallbladder removal. Baylor College of Medicine Department of Surgery website. Available at: http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org/home/content.cfm?proc_name=cholecystectomy&content_id=272 . Accessed July 11, 2008.
Gallbladder surgery: laparoscopic cholecystectomy. University of California at Davis website. Available at: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/surgery/specialties/gastro/gall.html . Accessed July 11, 2008.
Laparoscopic gall bladder removal. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.sages.org/publication/id/PI11/ . Accessed November 10, 2011.
Laparoscopic surgery: bile, duct, and gallbladder. New York University School of Medicine website. Available at: http://www.nyulaparoscopy.org/surgeries/gallbladder.html#stones . Accessed July 11, 2008.
Martin DJ, Wernon DR, Toouli J. Surgical versus endoscopic treatment of bile duct stones. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Apr 2006;19(2):CD003327.
Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 16th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2001;1076-1095.
What are the surgical procedures for gallstones and gallstone disease? University of California at Davis website. Available at: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ . Accessed August 16, 2003.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Marcin Chwistek, MD

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