When is gallbladder surgery required?

Written in association with: Mr Nagammapudur Balaji
Published:
Edited by: Conor Dunworth

Gallstones are a very common condition, and patients will often have to undergo gallbladder surgery if they suffer from them. In his latest online article, renowned consultant surgeon Mr Nagammapudur Balaji explains this surgery in detail.

 

What is gallbladder surgery and why is it necessary?

Gallbladder surgery involves removing the gallbladder, usually due to gallstones. It is usually done by the keyhole method which is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

 

What are the different types of gallbladder surgeries?

The most common type of gallbladder surgery is done to remove the organ due to gallstones. However, surgery is also sometimes done if the patient is suffering from a tumour or cancer, although this is rare. The operation is a little bit different, and usually involves removing more than just the gallbladder.

In some instances, it can be difficult or unsafe to remove the gallbladder using keyhole surgery and open surgery will be done instead.

Sometimes gallstones can move out of the gallbladder and into the bile duct, and this requires surgery that removes the stone from the duct and removes the gallbladder as well.

 

How is the patient prepared for gallbladder surgery?

The most important part of gallbladder surgery is the selection of the patient. Now, gallstones are not at all uncommon. If you take 100 people off the road and scan all of them, there is a chance that about 15 to 20 people might have gallstones, but that does not mean that you're going to have to go and take everyone's gallbladder.

Gallbladder surgery is only done if the gallstones are causing problems for the patient. Once we decide that the patient needs gallbladder surgery, we explain the risks and benefits of the operation. We then prepare the patients as we do for any patient.

This surgery is usually done as a day case, so the patient can go home the same day as the operation. If it is a particularly complex surgery or if they have multiple medical problems, or if there are complications, then the stay is longer.

 

What can one expect during the recovery process after gallbladder surgery?

As I mentioned, this is a 24-hour or a day case procedure. If the operation happens in the morning, they're able to go home later in the evening. If there are any problems, they stay longer. Patients are usually back to normal after about a week, and back to work in about 10 days.

Usually, before surgery, anything fatty will make the pain from gallstones worse. After surgery, because the gallbladder and the stones are out, that should not be a problem but patients still need to be sensible.

 

Are there any risks or complications associated with gallbladder surgery?

Gallbladder surgery is what we call bread-and-butter surgery, as it's something we do quite often. If the patient is selected well, and the procedure goes well, it's usually a very straightforward procedure. As with all surgeries, there is a small risk of complications with the anaesthetic, wound infection, chest infection and the keyhole surgery needing to be converted to open surgery.

The bile pipe can get damaged in about one or two in 1000 surgeries. If that happens, then it's further surgeries and a long stay in hospital.

About 10 to 15% get diarrhoea after gallbladder surgery. We aren’t sure why some patients get this side effect.

Overall, it is a very safe operation.

 

Mr Nagammapudur Balaji is a revered consultant surgeon with more than 30 years of experience. If you would like to book a consultation with Mr Balaji, you can do so today via his Top Doctors profile.

By Mr Nagammapudur Balaji
Surgery

Mr Balaji Nagammapudur is a consultant surgeon who sees patients at Nuffield Health—North Staffordshire and Spire Regency Hospital—Macclesfield. Mr Balaji is a part of Infinity Surgery a group of highly experienced bariatric and complex Upper GI surgeons.

Mr Balaji focuses on upper GI (Food pipe and stomach) surgery and bariatric(weight loss) surgery, including the treatment of hiatal hernias. He also performs general and keyhole surgery including treatment of gall stones and hernias. He often carries out and is highly talented in performing these procedures.

Mr Balaji also works for the NHS in the department of upper GI and bariatric surgery at the University Hospital North Midlands, Stoke on Trent. He also offers services in general, laparoscopic, upper GI and weight loss surgery at the Nuffield hospitals, Newcastle under Lyme, Clayton, Stoke on Trent.

Mr Balaji completed a formal higher surgical training with a particular interest in oesophagogastric and bariatric surgery in the UK and a fellowship in Oesophageal surgery in the USA. He has been a consultant surgeon in India and the UK since 2009.

Mr Balaji is the clinical lead for Upper GI surgery and he is a part of professional organisations in the UK and internationally in the field of oesophageal, laparoscopic and bariatric surgery.

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