Aftercare
The care after a gall bladder removal essentially retains the usual measures after an operation. These include a brief monitoring in the recovery room until the anesthesia has subsided. In the following days, blood is taken to check laboratory values, such as inflammation values.
If the course of the operation is free of complications, the patient can be discharged after only a few days. A special follow-up treatment is usually not necessary. In the case of a gall bladder removal carried out by means of a construction cut, it may be necessary to remove stitches or staples after about two weeks.
The attending physician at the hospital will inform you if this becomes necessary. As a rule, the removal can then also be carried out by the family doctor. Otherwise, a further check is only necessary if symptoms occur again.
Risks of gall bladder removal
Like any other operation, a gall bladder removal is not free of risks. The procedure can result in injury to (neighboring) organs. Blood loss, which in extreme cases can be life-threatening or require the transfer of blood products, is also possible.
In rare cases this can lead to an infection with a disease or an allergic reaction. However, a relevant blood loss is extremely rare during gall bladder resection, and even if blood products have to be transmitted, the risk of infection as well as a rejection of the blood due to multiple controls is minimal. Furthermore, an inflammation of the peritoneum or the abdominal cavity as well as a wound healing disorder can occur.
The doctor in the hospital will inform the patient in detail about the possible risks of the operation and answer questions of the patient. In addition, sufficient time will be allowed for consideration. Overall, the removal of the gallbladder can be classified as relatively low-risk.
Complications
The removal of the gallbladder is a very common operation, which nowadays rarely leads to complications due to routine and standardized procedures. Nevertheless, in some cases problems do occur, either during the procedure itself or during the healing phase. During the operation, organs such as the liver may be damaged.
In addition to internal bleeding, in some cases there may be inflammation of the peritoneum due to leaking bile. In the worst conceivable case, these complications can lead to death, but this is extremely rare in the context of a gall bladder removal. Even if the course of the procedure is initially without complications, problems can still arise if the patient does not take the appropriate care after the procedure or if he or she feels too much too soon.
Patients who lift heavy weights in the first four weeks after gall bladder resection or otherwise overstrain themselves physically may suffer a scarring fracture, which may have to be treated by another operation. However, even with good protection, complications cannot be ruled out in the further course of the operation. If the condition worsens significantly or the pain reoccurs or increases, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.
In the case of minor complaints, the family doctor can help further. If the symptoms are severe, however, it is advisable to return to hospital immediately. The two surgical methods – open through an abdominal incision and minimally invasive using a keyhole technique – do not differ significantly in the frequency of possible complications.
