Sage-Tips

What should I ask before gallbladder surgery?

Questions to ask your surgeon

• How experienced are you in performing gallbladder surgery?
• Have you ever injured or cut the wrong duct?
• Will the procedure be recorded?
• Who will be assisting with the surgery?
• Is the hospital a tertiary facility?
• Do you have experience in duct repairs?

What can I eat until I get my gallbladder removed?

Eat mainly plants; less meat. Eat fish or poultry in preference to red meat, as red meat contains more fat. Avoid dairy and egg. Eat home cooked food (where you can control what goes in, rather than purchased or processed foods)

How long does gallbladder removal surgery take?

A laparoscopic cholecystectomy takes one or two hours. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy isn’t appropriate for everyone. In some cases your surgeon may begin with a laparoscopic approach and find it necessary to make a larger incision because of scar tissue from previous operations or complications.

What happens the first week after gallbladder removal?

After your surgery, you will likely feel weak and tired for several days after you return home. Your belly may be swollen. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you may also have pain in your shoulder for about 24 hours. You may have gas or need to burp a lot at first.

Do you lose weight after gallbladder removal?

Weight loss is common ahead of and after gallbladder removal. A doctor will request that people follow a low fat diet leading up to the surgery. Directly following the procedure, side effects may include loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea. However, it is essential to resume a regular, healthful diet after surgery.

How painful is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

The incision and your abdominal muscles may ache, especially after long periods of standing. If you had a laparoscopic surgery, you may feel pain from any carbon dioxide gas still in your belly. This pain may last for a few days. It should feel a bit better each day.

How soon can I walk after gallbladder surgery?

You can probably go back to normal activity about a week after laparoscopic gallbladder removal. If you do a physical job with heavy lifting, ask your doctor when you can go back to work. You can drive 24 hours after you had anesthesia if you are not taking narcotic pain medicines.

What are the 5 Steps to Safer Surgery?

Five Steps to Safer Surgery is a surgical safety checklist. It involves briefing, sign-in, timeout, sign-out and debriefing, and is now advocated by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) for all patients in England and Wales undergoing surgical procedures.