If you’ve been told that your gallbladder needs to be removed, you should first learn about the removal procedure and what this surgery entails.
The gallbladder is a kind of small pouch that’s located directly below the liver. This organ is designed to store and eventually release the bile that’s made by the liver. Even though this pouch is small, it’s prone to being affected by a wide range of different health issues, which is why it might need to be removed.
What Is a Gallbladder Removal?
Gallbladder removal is a type of surgical procedure that’s designed to remove the gallbladder completely. While it might sound like removing an organ would make for a very difficult and invasive procedure, gallbladder removals are very common and come with hardly any notable risks. Many people who obtain this surgery are able to go home on the same day that they received the treatment. This surgical procedure can be provided if you suffer from gallstones in your bile duct, gallstones within the gallbladder, inflammation of the gallbladder, and pancreas inflammation that’s caused by the presence of gallstones.
What Does This Procedure Entail
Before the procedure begins, you’ll be provided with general anesthesia that will put you to sleep for the duration of the treatment. The exact treatment process depends on the technique that’s being used, which could be a minimally invasive technique or an open surgery technique. With the minimally invasive option, four small incisions will be placed around your abdomen.
A small tube with a camera will then be sent through these incisions to provide the surgeon will a view of the gallbladder while the surgery is ongoing. The gallbladder is then removed with some small surgical tools. This process can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to complete. The open surgery uses a six-inch incision to remove the gallbladder. While the treatment is completed in the same amount of time as the minimally invasive technique, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for around 2-3 days for your initial recovery.
Possible Risks of Gallbladder Removal
Even though this type of surgery is considered to be very safe, there are some general risks that you might want to be aware of. For instance, it’s possible that the bile within the gallbladder could leak. Bleeding and infection issues are also possible if the recovery process doesn’t go smoothly. If the procedure isn’t performed correctly, some of the nearby structures could be injured, which include the liver, small intestine, and bile duct.
What to Expect From Recovery
If you obtain the minimally invasive procedure for gallbladder removal, you’ll likely be able to return home on the same day that the procedure took place. You should be able to eat foods almost immediately without experiencing any pain. The full recovery time for this treatment is around seven days. As for the open surgery, you might be required to stay a few extra days in the hospital. Once you’ve returned home, the full recovery process can take around 4-6 weeks, during which you should monitor the swelling in the area.