Thumb

GALL BLADDER SURGERY

The Liver makes bile and excretes it into a long tube (the bile duct) that joins the first part of the bowel. Bile is a solution that helps to make fats dissolve in water (so that we can absorb them). When there is no fat in the gut, the bile is stored in the gallbladder. When we eat fat, a chemical messenger makes the gallbladder contract, squeezing bile into the gut.

Around 1 in 10 adults have gallstones. These begin as small crystals in the gallbladder and grow over time. These stones can cause irritation to the gallbladder, particularly when fat is consumed, causing pain and nausea (biliary colic).

We are unsure why certain people get stones and others don’t. Some factors that have been found to be associated with gall stones are:

Female Gender

Family History of Gallstones

Increasing Age

Obesity

Rapid Weight Loss

Symptoms of Gall Bladder
Biliary colic is the most common symptom of gallstones. It is pain or discomfort, in the upper abdomen, usually bought on by food (especially rich food). It lasts for minutes to hours, until the gallbladder relaxes.

Complications of Gall Bladder
Acute Cholecystitis is a severe infection of the gallbladder. It begins like biliary colic, but fails to improve, and is associated with fever. Acute cholecystitis will usually settle with antibiotics in hospital. If it does not settle, then urgent surgery is required.

Cholangitis If stones escape from the gallbladder into the bile duct, they may cause partial or complete blockage of the bile duct with inflammation and jaundice.

Pancreatitis This is an inflammation of the pancreas which is a digestive organ at the back of the abdomen. Small gallstones that have escaped from the gallbladder into the bile duct can pass past the pancreas and cause it to become inflamed.

Best Management is perform surgery within 72 hours. If the condition is a late presentation, it may be managed with antibiotics and surgery delayed.

The most common method of removal of the gallbladder is with laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. A small cut is made under the umbilicus (belly button). Through this a camera is placed, and gas is instilled. 2 or 3 other small cuts are placed in the upper abdomen, through which instruments are introduced to dissect free the gallbladder. An x-ray (cholangiogram) will be performed through the gallbladder (cystic) duct to rule out stones in the main duct.

The cystic duct and cystic artery are then clipped with permanent titanium clips. These do not cause any long-term problems or interfere with MRI. The gallbladder is then removed from its attachment to the liver and removed in a plastic bag.

The post-operative course is different for each person. Most patients stay one night in hospital. 1 - 2 weeks off work. This will vary depending on the work you do. Sutures are dissolving and buried, dressings can stay on for 7 days.

A follow-up appointment is made for 6-8 weeks after surgery. You may eat and drink normally after a day or two.

-->