How long does it take to recover after gallbladder surgery

Post-Operative Instructions for Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal

Foris Surgical Group, LLP

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• You will find yourself feeling weak and tired for 1-2 weeks after going home (and maybe longer). This will eventually resolve.
• Listen to your body and rest when you feel you need to.
• You might experience soreness like a sprain in the right shoulder or back. This is due to the gas that is put into your abdomen during the surgery- it will go away in 2-3 days. Apply heat to shoulder and back and take your pain medication as prescribed.
• Try not to lie flat. Elevate your head on several pillows and place a pillow under your knees to promote comfort and decrease risk of developing shoulder soreness.
• Your belly will feel bloated for about one week; you may not be able to close your pants. This will pass as the gas in the abdomen is absorbed.
• In the meantime, you might be more comfortable in loose fitting clothing.
• The belly button incision site and upper midline incisions are usually the most sore.
• You will probably develop mild bruising around one or more of your incisions.

DIET:

• You may return to normal food after you get home from your surgery. You may wish to avoid heavy foods following your surgery and perhaps just take liquids that day.
• The day after your surgery you may eat anything you wish. You should avoid fatty foods for two weeks following your surgery. You may want to avoid carbonated beverages for several days.

ACTIVITIES:

• You will feel easily fatigued for at least one week after discharge; this is normal.
• Rest as much as you need to.
• You may take short trips in a car as desired.
• You should not drive until you have stopped taking your pain medications.
• You are encouraged to take short walks two to three times daily.
• Do NOT lift anything over 20 lbs.
• Refrain from sports and exercise during the first week home.
• You may go up and down stairs as desired.
• After one week, you may return to all normal activities, as you desire (avoid very heavy, sudden lifting that causes increased discomfort).
• Depending on the physical activity requirements of your job you will probably be out of work a minimum of one week but this should be discussed with your surgeon.

INCISIONS:

• Remove the band aids or gauze 2 days after you get home.
• On the 2nd day after surgery, you may remove your dressings and shower. Please keep the dressings and incision sites dry until then. If you have small brown strips of tape across the incisions, you may gently wash over them and pat the strips of tape dry after the shower. Let these fall off by themselves.

MEDICATIONS:

• Use your pain pills (narcotics) as prescribed.
• You should switch to plain Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) as soon as possible to reduce complications or side effects from the narcotics.
• The pain pills (especially Tylox, Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycodone, Oxy IR, etc.) are prone to cause constipation. Increase fluids, fruits, and fiber in your diet to help prevent constipation.
• If you have not had a bowel movement by the 3rd day after surgery, you may take a gentle laxative such as Milk of Magnesia.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF:

• You develop a fever above 101.5F. Having a slight temperature elevation for first couple days is normal.
• You have a fever that persists greater than one week.
• You develop enough drainage from any of the incisions to saturate a piece of gauze after the first dressing change.
• You develop yellow or green drainage or rings/streaks of redness around the incision site(s).
• Generally, you will feel stronger and less sore with each passing day. If, after a few days, you begin to feel worse rather than better, you should call the office.
• If you notice very dark urine or the white part of your eyes (sclera) turns yellow.

FOLLOW UP:

• Call the office after you get home to schedule a checkup in 10-14 days or as instructed by your surgeon.

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your surgery or recuperation please DO NOT HESITATE to call our office –we are here to help in any way we can.

Foris Surgical Group, LLP
45 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 211
Frederick, MD 21702
(301)-694-3200

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On this page

• What is a cholecystectomy?
• Why is a cholecystectomy procedure performed?
• How do I prepare for the procedure?
• What happens during the procedure?
• What can I expect after the procedure?
• What are the risks of a cholecystectomy?
• Related information on Australian websites

What is a cholecystectomy?

A cholecystectomy is surgery to remove the gallbladder. It is usually done using keyhole surgery, when a tiny video camera and surgical equipment are inserted through 4 small cuts in the abdomen.

Why is a cholecystectomy procedure performed?

The gallbladder is a small organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of your abdomen. It collects and stores bile from your liver, which is used by the gut to help digest food.

Sometimes the gallbladder becomes blocked with gallstones that can cause pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Other complications can also occur, including inflammation of the gallbladder, inflammation of the pancreas, jaundice and infection.

In these cases, a cholecystectomy is performed under general anaesthetic to remove the gallbladder.

Sometimes, gallstones can move into your common bile duct. Bile ducts are 'pipes' that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine. A cholecystectomy and exploration of the bile duct is a procedure to remove your gallbladder as well as any stones found in your common bile duct.

How do I prepare for the procedure?

If you need to have a cholecystectomy, you will be asked to eat nothing the night before the surgery. If you need to take medications, you may have a sip of water. You should have nothing at all 4 hours before the surgery.

Your surgeon will discuss with you whether to stop taking any medicines or supplements. Make sure you follow all the instructions from your doctor.

Many people go home the same day as the operation, but you may need to stay in hospital. Make sure you arrange for someone to be with you after the surgery because the anaesthetic will make you drowsy.

What happens during the procedure?

Most cholecystectomies are performed laparoscopically, which means they use keyhole surgery. The surgeon will make 4 small cuts (incisions) in your abdomen so they can introduce a piece of equipment known as a laparoscopic telescope through one of the incisions. This will allow them to see inside your abdomen.

They will then pass metal tubes through the other incisions. The surgeon will put carbon dioxide inside you to lift the wall of the abdomen away from the organs. They will then use surgical clips to close off the ducts and arteries leading to the gallbladder and remove the gallbladder with instruments inserted through the tubes.

After the gallbladder has been removed, the carbon dioxide is allowed to escape before the incisions are stitched or closed with staples. The clips will stay inside you.

If your gallbladder is very inflamed you may need 'open cholecystectomy', which requires a larger cut in your upper abdomen.

What can I expect after the procedure?

You will be monitored in recovery for some time and will normally be able to go home within 24 hours. You may have some side effects from the general anaesthetic such as a headache, nausea or vomiting, which can be controlled with medicine.

You will have some pain in your abdomen after the operation, which can be controlled using pain relief. You may also have some pain in your shoulder from the gas used in the operation, which can be eased with walking.

You will have a drip in your arm at first, which will be removed after the anaesthetic wears off. You can take sips of water at first then slowly get back to eating and drinking normally.

Your wounds will have clips or stitches and you may also have a drain in your side to allow fluid to leave your body. This is usually removed the next day. Make sure you keep your wounds clean.

You will be tired at first. Do not drive for the first 7 days, smoke or lift heavy weights. You can expect to recover fully and return to your normal activities within 2 weeks.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have:

• a lot of discharge from the wounds
• a fever
• pain that can't be controlled by pain relief medicine
• swelling, tenderness or redness in the abdomen
• yellow eyes or skin

What are the risks of a cholecystectomy?

A cholecystectomy is a very safe procedure. As with all surgery, however, there is a very small risk of complications, which include:

• leaking bile
• bleeding
• blood clots
• heart problems
• infection
• injury of other organs
• pancreatitis
• pneumonia

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