For many people, their gallbladder is something they’ll never even have to think about. However, for some, it can be a great area of concern. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ lying just under the liver. Its primary function is to store the excess bile created by the liver, which is used to break down fatty foods in your diet. Unfortunately, it is possible for this process to work improperly, affecting the overall health of the patient. When this happens, it might be best to have the gallbladder removed entirely. The expert team at Arizona Premier Surgery has extensive experience in the field of gallbladder surgery. If the following information appears to pertain to you, consider scheduling an appointment at one of our offices in Chandler, Gilbert, or Scottsdale, AZ.
What are the signs of gallbladder issues?
When the gallbladder isn’t acting as efficiently as intended, it can create a myriad of undesirable consequences due, in large part, to the thick nature of bile. A buildup of bile can create obstructions that prevent the gallbladder from being emptied. If this happens, there are many possible outcomes, the most likely of which is gallstones.
Gallstones are solid deposits that can form within the bile of the gallbladder. The presence of these stones alone is not cause for concern. However, if they become stuck inside the gallbladder or within any of its biliary ducts, it can often lead to inflammation, infection, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and/or pain. Outside of gallstones, there are many other conditions that could necessitate the removal of the gallbladder, such as biliary dyskinesia, choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis.
Common signs and symptoms that could signify the need to have your gallbladder removed can include:
- Sharp pain in the upper right section of the abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Bloating
- Yellowing of the skin
- Pain after eating
- Indigestion combined with bloating, heartburn, and gas
How is the gallbladder removed?
At Arizona Premier Surgery, we can perform what is known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for our patients in Chandler, Gilbert, and Scottsdale, AZ. This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves one of our experienced surgeons making four small incisions along the abdomen. These incisions are then used in order to insert a laparoscope — as well as other specialized equipment — toward the abdomen. The abdomen is pumped with gas, causing it to inflate and giving the surgeon much more room to operate. During the procedure, our team will use a camera and monitor to easily navigate and operate on the gallbladder. Once it has been removed, we will take a collection of X-rays to ensure any remaining bile or gallstones are not causing blockages. The recovery time from laparoscopic cholecystectomy is relatively fast, with most patients being able to return to feeling like their normal self within only a week of the procedure.
Put your health first
An inflamed or diseased gallbladder is nothing to take lightly. If you’ve experienced any of the aforementioned symptoms, consider scheduling an appointment at Arizona Premier Surgery today. We have offices in Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Chandler, AZ, each of with is staffed with an expert team of general surgeons, assistants, and administrators in order to provide the highest possible level of care. Contact us today!
Gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a very common procedure. The gallbladder is a small, pouch-like organ in the upper right part of your tummy.
It stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fatty foods.
You don't need a gallbladder, so surgery to take it out is often recommended if you develop any problems with it.
Why does my gallbladder need to be removed?
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually carried out if you have painful gallstones.
These are small stones that can form in the gallbladder as a result of an imbalance in the substances that make up bile.
Gallstones often cause no symptoms and you may not realise you have them, but occasionally they can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) or pancreas (acute pancreatitis).
This can cause symptoms such as:
- sudden and intense tummy pain
- feeling and being sick
- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most effective treatment in the vast majority of cases.
What happens during gallbladder removal surgery
There are 2 main ways of removing a gallbladder:
- laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy – several small cuts (incisions) are made in your tummy (abdomen) and fine surgical instruments are used to access and remove your gallbladder
- open cholecystectomy – a single larger incision is made in your tummy to access and remove your gallbladder
Keyhole surgery is used most often because you can leave hospital sooner, recover faster and are left with smaller scars than with an open procedure.
Both techniques are performed under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep during the operation and won't feel any pain while it's carried out.
Find out more about how gallbladder removal surgery is performed
Recovering from gallbladder removal surgery
It doesn't usually take long to recover from keyhole surgery to remove your gallbladder.
Most people can leave hospital the same day or the next morning.
You'll probably be able to return to most of your normal activities within 2 weeks.
It takes longer to recover from open surgery. You may need to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days and it could be 6 to 8 weeks before you're feeling back to normal.
Find out more about recovering from gallbladder removal surgery
Living without a gallbladder
You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder.
Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system.
You may have been advised to eat a special diet before surgery, but this doesn't need to be continued afterwards.
Instead, you should aim to have a generally healthy, balanced diet.
Some people experience problems such as bloating or diarrhoea after surgery, although this usually improves within a few weeks.
If you notice certain foods or drinks trigger these symptoms, you may wish to avoid them in the future.
Find out more about diet after gallbladder surgery
Risks of gallbladder removal surgery
Gallbladder removal surgery is considered to be a safe procedure, but, like any type of surgery, there's a risk of complications.
Possible complications include:
- wound infection
- bile leaking into the tummy
- damage to one of the openings (ducts) carrying bile out of the liver
- blood clots
Speak to your surgeon about the benefits and risks of surgery before your operation.
Find out more about the complications of gallbladder removal surgery
Page last reviewed: 08 December 2021
Next review due: 08 December 2024