Gallbladder Surgery

Every year, thousands of clients, (many of them uninsured, underinsured, or self insured), turn to the North American Surgery Inc group, to have their surgeries expedited quickly, at significant savings, close to home. No longer is there any need to travel great distances for uninsured medical procedures, such as gallbladder surgery. If you need gallbladder surgery, but you are uninsured, North American Surgery can help you.

Why do I need gallbladder surgery?

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that is found beneath the right side of your liver. Its main purpose is to collect bile, a liquid produced by the liver. Bile travels through ducts and is then delivered into the small intestine where it helps you digest the fat in your food.

Some people, however, tend to form gallstones. These are hard, rock-like lumps – varying in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters — and made up of cholesterol, bile salts and calcium. If you have a tendency to form stones, they may gather in your gall bladder and block the flow of bile. This can cause pain, vomiting, indigestion, and occasionally, fever. Some people may also develop jaundice, a yellowing of the skin. Attacks can last from a few minutes to several hours.

No one understands why some people form gallstones and others don’t, but both family history and hormones are thought to play a role. Women, people who are overweight, anyone with high cholesterol, people with chronic intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and people over 40 are all at higher risk.

Why don’t I need my gallbladder?

The gallbladder, while helpful, is not necessary. It is storage and regulating organ. Even without it, your liver will continue to produce bile and deliver it to your small intestine. The gallbladder simply allows the release of extra bile when you’ve eaten a particularly high-fat meal, but your body can adjust to living without it. Rarely, some people may need to avoid super high-fat meals after gallbladder surgery, however.

What are the different surgical options for me?

Most commonly today, surgeons perform gallbladder surgery using a laparoscope – a special and very small telescope used to examine the inside of the body. While you are asleep under a general anesthetic, the surgeon makes small incision just below your naval and using a narrow tube-like instrument known as a cannula, inserts the laparoscope. Then, making several other small incisions, he or she inserts instruments and removes your gallbladder through one of the openings. The advantage of a laparoscopy is that it is a smaller surgery with a fast recovery time and usually, less pain.

Some people, however, are not able to have a laparoscopy. If you have a particularly severe inflammation of the gallbladder, an inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis), dense scar tissue, obesity or a bleeding disorder, you may need what’s called “open surgery.” If this occurs, the ultimate procedure is much the same, but the incision is longer (generally five to seven inches) and the surgeon works without the aid of the laparoscope. This is more major surgery and will require a longer recovery time.

Your surgeon will carefully asses your case and decide which surgery makes the most sense for you.

What is the risk of gall bladder surgery?

All surgeries carry some risk, including but not limited to the risk of anesthesia, bleeding, infection, pneumonia and blood clots. Potential complications relating specifically to gallbladder surgery may include unintended injury to the common bile duct, cystic duct or small intestine (and may require another surgery to repair it). Your surgeon is the best person to assess your risks and discuss how to minimize them.

How long will it take me to recover from gall bladder surgery?

All patients are likely to have some shoulder pain, lasting up to 72 hours. This is referred pain from the gas used to inflate the abdomen during the surgery. Many people will experience diarrhea and a loss of appetite. If you have a laparoscopy, you will usually be able to go home the same day or within one day and total recovery time will be about a week to 10 days. If you have open surgery you will need to stay in hospital for two to four days (sometimes more.) Total recovery time will be four to six weeks.

What can I expect when I’m fully recovered?

Once they have recovered from surgery, most people will discover their gallbladder pain has completely disappeared. Some people may not be able to eat large meals of very rich food without indigestion, however.