Gall Bladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery ( also known as cholecystectomy ), is the surgery done to remove the gallbladder when the gallstones cause symptoms of pain, etc. Gallbladder is the pear shaped organ which stores bile that helps to digest the food. 

If the gallbladder does not function properly, it starts to form hard fragments known as gallstones. These gallstones, if not dissolve, start to cause pain and other symptoms. Around 80 percent of the patients with gallstones need gallbladder surgery. 

 

Know More About Surgery

The patient needs gallbladder surgery in the following conditions/symptoms -

  • Gallbladder attack- sharp, shooting, knife like pain in the lower abdomen that may last for several hours. 
  • Gallstones cause blockade of the bile duct
  • Sickle cell anemia patients may require gallbladder surgery, as a precaution to avoid symptoms of gallstones
  • Cholecystitis- inflamed gallbladder
  • Pancreatitis- inflamed pancreas
  • Cholangitis- inflamed bile ducts

The tests done before the gall bladder surgery are- 

  • Physical examination 
  • Blood tests
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI HIDA scan
  • Endoscopic ultrasonography

The patient is given general anesthesia and a tube is inserted in the throat to assist in breathing while the surgery is performed. 

The 2 methods of gallbladder surgery are-

1. Open Gallbladder Surgery- In this method, a large 5-7 inch incision is made in the abdomen region to remove the entire gallbladder. This is done if the patient has a bleeding disorder, is overweight or is in the last trimester of pregnancy.

2. Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery- This is also known as keyhole surgery. Small cuts are made in the abdomen, a very thin flexible tube is inserted which has light attached and tiny video camera attached. Then small instruments are inserted to remove the gallbladder. 

 

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Bile leakage
  • Allergies or problems associated with anesthesia
  • Bile duct damage
  • Intestines, bowel or blood vessels damage
  • Deep vein thrombosis ( blood clots )
  • Heart problems
  • Pneumonia
  • Post cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) - this happens when gallstones are left in the bile ducts after the surgery or the bile starts leaking in the stomach. Symptoms include- belly pain, heartburn, diarrhea. 

 

  • Patients undergoing open gallbladder surgery must be discharged 2-3 days after the surgery and take 4-6 weeks to recover completely. 
  • Incase of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the patient is discharged on the same day or next day. 
  • The steps of care need to followed at home are-
  • Specific bathing instructions, to keep the area clean and dry
  • Pain may be felt for a few days at the incision site, painkillers must be taken as prescribed. 
  • Strenuous physical activities must be avoided till patient completely recovers
  • Post surgery work must be resumed by the patient only when advised by the doctor. 
  • Patients must strictly attend the follow up appointments and follow the diet chart as given by the doctor. 

 

Gall Bladder Surgery Cost from trusted Hospitals in Mumbai

Gall Bladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery ( also known as cholecystectomy ), is the surgery done to remove the gallbladder when the gallstones cause symptoms of pain, etc. Gallbladder is the pear shaped organ which stores bile that helps to digest the food. 

If the gallbladder does not function properly, it starts to form hard fragments known as gallstones. These gallstones, if not dissolve, start to cause pain and other symptoms. Around 80 percent of the patients with gallstones need gallbladder surgery. 

 

Symptoms

The patient needs gallbladder surgery in the following conditions/symptoms -

  • Gallbladder attack- sharp, shooting, knife like pain in the lower abdomen that may last for several hours. 
  • Gallstones cause blockade of the bile duct
  • Sickle cell anemia patients may require gallbladder surgery, as a precaution to avoid symptoms of gallstones
  • Cholecystitis- inflamed gallbladder
  • Pancreatitis- inflamed pancreas
  • Cholangitis- inflamed bile ducts

Diagnosis

The tests done before the gall bladder surgery are- 

  • Physical examination 
  • Blood tests
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI HIDA scan
  • Endoscopic ultrasonography

Treatment

The patient is given general anesthesia and a tube is inserted in the throat to assist in breathing while the surgery is performed. 

The 2 methods of gallbladder surgery are-

1. Open Gallbladder Surgery- In this method, a large 5-7 inch incision is made in the abdomen region to remove the entire gallbladder. This is done if the patient has a bleeding disorder, is overweight or is in the last trimester of pregnancy.

2. Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery- This is also known as keyhole surgery. Small cuts are made in the abdomen, a very thin flexible tube is inserted which has light attached and tiny video camera attached. Then small instruments are inserted to remove the gallbladder. 

 

Risks

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Bile leakage
  • Allergies or problems associated with anesthesia
  • Bile duct damage
  • Intestines, bowel or blood vessels damage
  • Deep vein thrombosis ( blood clots )
  • Heart problems
  • Pneumonia
  • Post cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) - this happens when gallstones are left in the bile ducts after the surgery or the bile starts leaking in the stomach. Symptoms include- belly pain, heartburn, diarrhea. 

 

After Procedure

  • Patients undergoing open gallbladder surgery must be discharged 2-3 days after the surgery and take 4-6 weeks to recover completely. 
  • Incase of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the patient is discharged on the same day or next day. 
  • The steps of care need to followed at home are-
  • Specific bathing instructions, to keep the area clean and dry
  • Pain may be felt for a few days at the incision site, painkillers must be taken as prescribed. 
  • Strenuous physical activities must be avoided till patient completely recovers
  • Post surgery work must be resumed by the patient only when advised by the doctor. 
  • Patients must strictly attend the follow up appointments and follow the diet chart as given by the doctor. 

 

FAQ Section

1) What are the side effects of gallbladder surgery?

The various side effects of gallbladder surgery are- difficulty in digesting fats, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, intestinal injury, jaundice, fever.

 

2) What happens to the body after the gallbladder surgery?

After the gallbladder surgery, the liver still makes enough bile, but the patient may have difficulty in digesting fatty food items. 

 

3) Does the patient gain weight after the gallbladder surgery?

The patient may have some weight fluctuations after the gallbladder surgery. With time, the body gets used to loss of gallbladder and the patient starts gaining weight.

 

4) What is the purpose of gallbladder surgery?

The gallbladder surgery is done in the following conditions- painful gallstones, inflammations and infections, cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis. 

 

5) What are the types of gallbladder surgery?

There are 2 types of gallbladder surgery are -

  1. Minimally invasive / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
  2. Traditional / Open cholecystectomy

 

6) What are the diagnostic tests done before the gallbladder surgery?

The diagnostic tests done before the gallbladder surgery are- Blood tests, abdominal ultrasounds, endoscopic ultrasounds, other imaging tests like- HIDA scan, CT scans, MRCP or ERCP tests. 

 

7) What is the cost of gallbladder surgery in India?

The cost of gallbladder surgery in India varies across different cities and hospitals.

Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in India
CITY COST
Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in Mumbai                INR 50000- INR 170000       
Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in Bangalore INR 48000- INR 165000
Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in Delhi INR 48000- INR 165000
Cost of Gallbladder Surgery in Chennai INR 45000- INR 160000

 

8) How long does it take to recover from gallbladder surgery?

It takes around 2 weeks time to recover after the gallbladder surgery and return to daily activities. After the open surgery, the patient has to stay in the hospital for 3-5 days and the recovery time is longer. Incase of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the patient can be discharged on the same day or next day. The patient can resume back to daily activities after 1 week. 

9) How long does gallbladder surgery last?

The gallbladder surgery takes around 2-3 hours,both the open method and the laparoscopic method.