The gallbladder is an anatomical structure that is found beneath the liver. It is involved in various functions such as storage of bile and production of mucus. Bile is quite essential in the human body as it is used to emulsify the fats that are consumed in the diet; therefore it helps in the digestion and absorption of these fatty acids
There are a myriad of diseases that could affect the gallbladder as well as the biliary tree such as gallbladder cancer, gallbladder stones, biliary strictures and stenosis, calcification within the gallbladder and biliary structures as well as congenital abnormalities associated with the gallbladder and the biliary tree such as biliary atresia.
Complications associated with gallstones include pain and maldigestion of the ingested food especially fats. The surgical approaches vary as widely as the conditions involved with the gallbladder and its associated structures.
The main goal of gallbladder surgery is the restoration of a normal anatomy and physiology of the body organ and removing any pathologies that may be causing the patient any clinical symptoms such as pain in the case of gallstones and incomplete digestion of fats in the case of stenosis of the ducts emptying the gallbladder. Indications for cholecystectomy The main goal of gallbladder surgery is the restoration of normal anatomy and physiology of the body organ and removing any pathologies that may be causing the patient any clinical symptoms such as pain in the case of gallstones and incomplete digestion of fats in the case of stenosis of the ducts emptying the gallbladder Indications for cholecystectomy
The major surgical operation is cholecystectomy which involves the removal of the gallbladder itself. A History of gallstones should be confirmed using radiological investigations such as the ultrasound and before surgery is indicated. In addition to this, since about 80% of the people with gallstones are asymptomatic, surgery is only strongly indicated to those who develop symptoms of the gallstones and or the associated complications.
Because the bile acids are used to breakdown fats in a way that can be easily absorbed by the body, the patient’s body will take a while to get accustomed to the new mode of fat digestion without involving the gallbladder production of bile salts. Drugs prescribed could assist this fat breakdown.
The patient’s fitness for the surgical procedure is assessed first. The patient should be prepared for this. In the case of an acute attack of the symptoms associated with the gallstones, the cholecystectomy should be immediate with a duration of about 5 days for one to undergo the surgery, but if chronic the patient should wait for about 6-8 weeks for the inflammation to subside before they are booked for surgery.
Surgery is usually done outpatient, and patients can go home the same day of surgery. The average healing time is about 6-8 weeks, where the patients can comfortably go back to their normal routine and work. You can resume your normal diet immediately but adhere to the instructions given by the health practitioners regarding dieting. You should start with small frequent meals and scale up gradually. It should be a balanced diet but avoid taking fatty foods as your body is getting accustomed to the new way of digesting fat. Plenty of water intake should accompany the healthy diet. Thromboprophylaxis is done using blood thinners during the recovery period. The patient is also advised to take brief walks frequently to prevent blood clot formation.
Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: Rarely, in about 15% of the patients, the clinical signs and symptoms that were the key indications for the cholecystectomy don’t go away. It could be a result of the presence of other unidentified stones in the biliary tree, surgical damage to the biliary tree or just a continuation of the symptoms and should be investigated further.