What is a cholecystectomy?
A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — the small, hollow organ that stores bile for your digestive system. Gallbladder removal surgery is a common treatment for many types of gallbladder disease. This is because the downsides of having your gallbladder removed are generally fewer than those of the diseases it treats. You can live a healthy life without a gallbladder.
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Is cholecystectomy a major surgery?
Cholecystectomy is a common procedure with a typically easy recovery. It’s also one of the first procedures that’s become routinely performed using minimally invasive surgery techniques. These techniques, including laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery, use very small incisions of a half-inch or less to minimize trauma, pain and recovery time. While an open operation with a larger incision may occasionally be necessary, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is far more common today than open surgery.
Why is cholecystectomy done?
You might need gallbladder removal surgery if gallbladder disease:
- Interferes with your quality of life.
- Poses significant risks to your health.
- Is expected to continue and/or get worse.
Unfortunately, this is the case with most of the conditions that can affect your gallbladder, including:
Gallstones are the most common reason for cholecystectomy. While many people live with gallstones and never have problems with them, those who do have problems tend to have them repeatedly. A gallstone that gets stuck anywhere in your biliary tract can block the flow of bile, causing pain and illness. It might block the opening to your gallbladder, your common bile duct or your pancreatic duct.
How do I know if I need to have my gallbladder removed?
The most common and recognizable symptom of gallbladder disease is biliary colic. It’s a pattern of pain in your biliary tract (generally in your upper right abdomen) that occurs in episodes, often with nausea. Biliary colic is usually an early sign of biliary disease that’s likely to get worse. When your bile flow stalls completely, you’ll feel intense gallbladder pain that won’t go away until you get medical care.
Other signs of possible gallbladder disease include:
If you have any of these signs or symptoms, your healthcare provider will examine you and conduct the necessary tests to diagnose the cause. They’ll let you know if they recommend cholecystectomy for you.
How does gallbladder removal affect my body?
Gallbladder removal changes the structure of your biliary tract, which affects how your digestive system works. Your gallbladder usually stores extra bile until your small intestine needs it. It contracts to deliver the extra bile when you have a heavy meal to digest. After your cholecystectomy, bile will simply flow directly to your small intestine from your liver, where it’s made, without being stored first.
Most people experience a temporary adjustment period in their digestive systems after gallbladder removal. For the first month or so, you might have more trouble digesting fats and heavier meals. This should gradually improve over time. Most people are able to resume a normal, healthy diet after their recovery. A small number of people develop longer-term digestive difficulties, for unclear reasons.
FAQs
Most people experience a temporary adjustment period in their digestive systems after gallbladder removal. For the first month or so, you might have more trouble digesting fats and heavier meals. This should gradually improve over time. Most people are able to resume a normal, healthy diet after their recovery.
What are the most common complaints after cholecystectomy? ›
The symptoms include fatty food intolerance, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, jaundice, and intermittent episodes of abdominal pain. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome can present early, typically in the post-operative period, but can also manifest months to years after surgery.
What are the considerations after cholecystectomy? ›
Don't eat high-fat foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty sauces and gravies for at least a week after surgery. Instead, choose fat-free or low-fat foods. Low-fat foods are those with no more than 3 grams of fat in a serving.
Do and don'ts after gallbladder removal? ›
How can you care for yourself at home?
- Rest when you feel tired. ...
- Try to walk each day. ...
- For about 2 to 4 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. ...
- Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weightlifting, and aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.
However, some people experience persistent issues known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Long-term effects of gallbladder removal include diarrhea, fatty food intolerance, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and intermittent episodes of abdominal pain.
What is the most feared complication of cholecystectomy? ›
Abstract. Bile duct injury is perhaps the most feared complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Do you gain weight after gallbladder removal? ›
Without the gallbladder, the body cannot store as much bile, and it does not break down as much fat. A person may experience temporary weight loss following gallbladder removal surgery. However, some research indicates that they may experience weight gain in the long term.
How does life change after gallbladder removal? ›
Living without a gallbladder
You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system.
What foods to eat when you have no gallbladder? ›
Low-fat foods.
- Low-fat, 1%, or fat-free dairy products.
- Fat-free cheeses.
- Egg whites or egg substitutes.
- Veggie burgers.
- Beans, peas, lentils.
- Oatmeal.
- Whole grains.
- Brown rice.
Reduce your caffeine intake
Caffeine increases the production of stomach acid, which makes your stomach contents empty faster. Without the normal amount of bile in your stomach that used to be produced by your gall bladder, you will experience more gas, bloating and pain as the food is digested.
Breakfasts:
- Oatmeal, with non-fat milk and fruit.
- Toast with peanut butter or sunflower butter.
- Scrambled eggs with whole grain toast.
Gall bladder removal does not cause any serious long-term problems, although you may experience some common minor side effects such as: Diarrhoea. Flatulence. Short-term constipation.
What does not having a gallbladder do to your body? ›
Living without a gallbladder
You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system.
What is the life expectancy of someone without a gallbladder? ›
Gallbladder removal does not reduce your life expectancy. The absence of a gallbladder in the body does not reduce the life expectancy of a patient. On the contrary, dietary changes that a patient makes post-removal can increase life expectancy.
