Gallbladder removal complications will be discussed in the following article. Gallbladder removal is sometimes the only way to treat gallbladder disorder. There are two types of gallbladder removal: open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Open cholecystectomy is an older method. It usually leaves a visible scar and it can lead to infections, because the incision is quite large. Patients will stay in hospital for a couple of days, and after that, they will have to stay at home for a couple of weeks, to recover completely.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually a better method. It leaves a small (almost invisible) scar. It is safer, because the incisions are smaller, and the risk of infection is significantly reduced. No muscles will be cut and there will certainly be less pain. The healing process will be faster, and the risk of post-operative complications will be lower. The patient will be home the following day, and after one week, he/she will be able to return to his/her usual activities.
Complications are not very common, but in some cases, serious problems can result from this surgery.
Gallbladder Removal Complications
● The common bile duct injury is a rare complication, but it can be very serious. This duct is a connection between the liver and gallbladder. If it is injured, there can be bile leak, which will further lead to quite dangerous infections. These injuries can be minor, and in such cases, there will be no need for another surgical intervention. However, if the injury turns out to be serious, another surgery may be required.
● Although this may sound incredible, gallbladder symptoms can reoccur, even after the gallbladder removal. Even if the gallbladder is taken out, if you continue to consume foods that are bad for your condition, gallstones can form. The liver will continue to produce bile, in order to break down the fats. Without gallbladder, your digestive system will be much different and it won’t be able to digest all types of foods, especially those high in cholesterol. If you do not change your diet, you may start having those symptoms again.
After the gallbladder surgery, you may experience side effects like:
● Gas
● Nausea
● Diarrhea
● Bloating
● Abdominal pain
● Postcholecystectomy syndrome includes the symptoms mentioned above, along with persistent pain and vomiting. This pain is located on the right side of the abdomen. As you can see, this resembles a gallbladder attack. Many people may have these symptoms, and this can last several months. People believe that the problem will be eliminated after the surgery. However, this is not always so simple.
● Even though gallbladder surgery seems to be the only option for some patients, you can never be certain that the symptoms will not reoccur.
● Diarrhea is one of the side effects that will subside within a couple of weeks. This side effect cannot be considered a complication, but it can be quite severe. Your digestive system will need some time to get used to this new way of functioning – without gallbladder.
● Bile duct injuries can lead to serious complications. These injuries may happen during the surgery, due to bad visibility.
● Bile leak can be one of the post-operative complications. This can be related to bile duct injuries.
● Infections are possible, especially after having open cholecystectomy. The incision is large, so it can get infected. However, infections are possible even in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
It is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions, especially those related to your diet after the surgery. If you have had open cholecystectomy, you will have to stay in bed until the healing process is complete.
Proper diet and certain moderations to your lifestyle will help you avoid many complications that are possible after this surgery. Gallbladder diet is not very restrictive, but you will have to avoid some foods, especially those with high cholesterol content. You will still be able to eat various foods, but some foods will have to be eliminated from your diet. Some beverages will also have to be avoided. You will have to help your own body to get used to this new regime. It is quite possible to have a normal life without gallbladder. All you have to do is follow some rules.