A Post-Surgery Guideline For Cholecystectomy!

Gallstones can’t be wished away. There are no medications for it. The only solution is to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ situated beneath the liver, which collects and concentrates the bile produced by the liver. The surgical removal of the gallbladder becomes necessary if one develops stones in the gallbladder which blocks the flow of bile. Gallbladder removal surgery also called Cholecystectomy is a fairly common surgery with very low risks and complications.

Diagnosis
Gallstones are usually diagnosed with the help of an ultrasound, although in the more complex cases, CT scans and X-ray tests are also used. As gallstones can only be managed temporarily with dietary adjustments and can’t be made to go away, Cholescystectomy is a permanent solution.

Post-Surgery-

1. Temporary or transient nausea may occur for a day or two, as a side effect to the medications used such as anesthesia.
2. The amount of time that a patient might need to spend in hospital care is dependent on how well they can intake and retain fluids in the body. Urine function is monitored and on that the basis of that, patients are discharged.
3. Patients can resume normal physical activity, which includes driving and light lifting within almost a week’s time.
4. If you notice an onset of fever, yellowing of eyes and skin, persistent nausea, then you must contact your surgeon in case it develops into a serious complication.
5. Follow up with your surgeon within 2-3 weeks of the surgery.

Risks
The risks associated with Cholecystectomy are quite low. Minor complications such as blood clots and infections are usually mitigated by the precision and dexterity of the surgeon.

Recovery
You need to plan ahead for your recovery.

1. Plan to stay at the hospital: Although you could easily leave the same day as your Cholecystectomy, it is highly advisable to stay in hospital care for at least a day or two. Complications may occur, therefore, it is smarter to deal with them in the hospital where the doctor is always available. Also, if it was so required that the surgeon needed to make a deep incision, you will need to stay longer at the hospital.
2. Do not drive yourself home: Ask a family member or a close friend to drive you home when you leave the hospital. Its not going to take you more than a week or two to start driving again. It is better to cautious about physical activity just after surgery.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!