Gallbladder removal - open  Indigestion

 Infection (cholecystitis)

Open gallbladder removal is surgery to remove The most common way to remove the gallbladder
the gallbladder. is by using a medical instrument called a
laparoscope. See also: Gallbladder removal -
Description
laparoscopic
In gallbladder removal surgery, a surgeon makes
a large incision (cut) in your belly to open it up Other reasons for this surgery may be:
and see the area. The surgeon then removes your
gallbladder by reaching in through the incision  You have had many surgeries in this part
and gently lifting it out. of your belly in the past
 Breathing problems
Surgery is done while you are under general  Severe liver problems
anesthesia (unconscious and unable to feel pain).  Bleeding problems
 You are in your third trimester of
The surgeon will make a 5 to 7 inch incision in the pregnancy
upper right part of your belly, just below your  Obesity
ribs. The surgeon will cut the bile duct and blood  Pancreatitis
vessels that lead to the gallbladder. Then your
gallbladder will be removed. Risks

A special x-ray called a cholangiogram will be Talk with your doctor about any of these risks.
done during the surgery. This involves squirting
The risks for any anesthesia are:
some dye into your common bile duct. This duct
will be left inside you after your gallbladder has
 Reactions to drugs you are given
been removed. The dye helps locate other stones
 Breathing problems
that may be outside your gallbladder. If any are
 Pneumonia
found, the surgeon may be able to remove these
 Heart problems
other stones with a special medical instrument.
 Blood clots in the legs or in the lungs
Open gallbladder removal surgery takes about an
hour. The risks for gallbladder surgery are:

Why the Procedure is Performed  Bleeding

 Infection
Your doctor may recommend gallbladder removal
 Injury to the common bile duct
surgery if you have gallstones or
 Injury to the small intestine
your gallbladder is not functioning normally
 Pancreatitis (inflammation in the
(biliary dyskinesia).
pancreas)
You may have some or all of these symptoms:
Before the Procedure

 Pain after eating, usually in the upper Your doctor may ask you to have these medical
right or upper middle area of tests done before you have surgery:
your belly (epigastric pain)
 Nausea and vomiting
  Blood tests (complete blood
count, electrolytes, and kidney tests)
 Chest x-ray or electrocardiogram (EKG),
for some patients
 Several x-rays of the gallbladder
Always tell your doctor or nurse:
 If you are or might be pregnant
 What drugs, vitamins, and other
supplements you are taking, even ones
you bought without a prescription
During the week before your surgery:
 You may be asked to stop taking aspirin,
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), vitamin E,
warfarin (Coumadin), and any other
drugs that make it hard for your blood to
clot.
 Your doctor may ask you to "clean out"
your colon or intestines.
 Ask your doctor which drugs you should
still take on the day of your surgery.
On the day of the surgery:
 Do not eat or drink anything after
midnight the night before your surgery.
 Take the drugs your doctor told you to
take with a small sip of water.
 Shower the night before or the morning
of your surgery
 Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to
arrive at the hospital.
Prepare your home for after the surgery.
After the Procedure
People usually stay in the hospital for 2 to 6 days
after open gallbladder removal. During that time:
 You will be asked to breathe into a
medical device called an incentive
spirometer. This helps keep your lungs
working well so that you do not get
pneumonia.
 The nurse will help you sit up in bed,
hang your legs over the side, and then
stand up and start to walk.
 At first you will receive fluids into your
vein through an intravenous tube (IV).
Soon, though, the doctors and nurses will
ask you to start drinking liquids and then
eat other foods.
 You will be able to begin showering again
while you are still in the hospital.
 You may be asked to wear pressure
stockings on your legs to help prevent a
blood clot from forming. These help keep
your blood circulating well.
If there were problems during your surgery, or if
you have bleeding, a lot of pain, or a fever, you
may need to stay in the hospital longer.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Most people do very well and recover quickly.
Alternative Names
Cholecystectomy - open
References
Chari RS, Shah SA. Biliary system. In: Townsend
CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox
KL. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St.
Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008:chap 54.
Afdhal N. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile
ducts. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil
Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders
Elsevier; 2007:chap 159.
Siddiqui T. Early versus delayed laparoscopic
cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-
analysis of randomized clinical trials. Am J Surg.
2008;195(1):40-47.