Preparation | Gall Bladder Removal

Preparation

If the removal of the gallbladder is planned, there are some things that are necessary or at least useful in the preparation for the operation. Usually, a preliminary examination is carried out in the hospital where the operation is to be performed. The date of the operation is usually also arranged at this time.

In your personal environment, you should inform your family as well as your job that you will have to go to hospital for a few days and that you will not be able to work under full load for several weeks afterwards. If necessary, the care of children, other relatives or pets should be organized in advance. At the latest one week before the operation date you should pay special attention to a healthy diet.

Sufficient exercise is also advisable, but without overloading yourself. If possible, you should also get enough sleep so that your body can recover as much as possible and can better process the operation. Contact with people suffering from a gastrointestinal infection or a cold should be avoided if possible.

Should you nevertheless suffer from such an infection, it is important to inform the doctor. He will decide whether the operation can still be carried out or should be postponed. Another part of the preparation for a gall bladder removal is to prepare yourself in time for the several-day hospital stay. This includes in particular packing clothes and other utensils.In addition to hygiene items such as toothbrush and shower gel, you should also have some cash as well as things for entertainment such as

Procedure of the surgery

There are basically two different surgical procedures for the removal of the gallbladder. Both require general anesthesia. In terms of the procedure, the operations differ mainly in the access routes.

While in open surgery a larger incision is made through the skin of the abdominal wall and the layers underneath, in keyhole technique or laparoscopic surgery only small skin incisions are made and inserted through these tubes. The required surgical instruments and a camera can now be advanced through these so-called trocars. In addition, the abdominal cavity is pumped up with the gas carbon dioxide, so that the abdominal vault is stretched and visibility is improved. In the open procedure, on the other hand, the operating area is exposed and the surgeon can operate “directly”.