Gallbladder removal surgery is a safe and most effective treatment option if you are suffering from gallstones. Gallstones are solid materials which are formed by the hardening of the bile.
Gallbladder removal surgery is recommended by the majority of doctors as the best treatment option. However, you may be worried about the side effects of gallbladder removal surgery on your daily life and the complications involved in it. Here, you will get to know how safe gallbladder removal is.
Is gallbladder removal surgery safe?
All medical surgeries have their risks, benefits, side-effects, and complications. So, with the gallbladder removal, you may get affected by the complications as well.
But, gallbladder removal surgery is safe if compared with other treatment options. It doesn’t affect your daily activities and has more benefits than risks and complications. So, it is a safe procedure and most doctors will recommend if you are affected by symptoms of gallstones.
In case, medications fail to dissolve your gallstones, gallbladder removal surgery is the best alternative to treat gallstones.
What is the safest procedure for gallbladder removal surgery:
Open surgery and laparoscopic surgery are two types of surgical methods used to remove a gallbladder. Both of these surgeries have a high success rate of 85-90%. But, most of the doctors choose laparoscopic surgery to remove the gallbladder.
In open surgery, a single large incision is made on your right side of the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. Once the gallbladder is removed, this large incision will be stitched. Over time, you can notice a scar at the surgical site.
On the other hand, laparoscopic surgery is a safe, painless, and most effective treatment for treating gallstones. This surgery is performed through small incisions that are made on the abdomen. These incisions do not form any scars like in open surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery has few advantages over open surgery, and they are faster recovery, less pain, less cutting of skin and tissue, reduced complications of infection, and less hospital stay. But, remember that every surgery has risks and complications. Few of the risks that can be associated with laparoscopic surgery are bleeding, damage to the other organs, and risk of hypothermia.
As gallbladder removal surgery is safe, it is performed by several surgeons across the world to help in:
- Treating gallstones: Gallstones may go undetected for years, and you may not be aware of them. Over time, they grow in size and lead to serious medical attention. To avoid further complications, gallbladder removal is a safe and best treatment option.
- Relieving pain: You can suffer from mild and intermittent pain in the upper right section of the abdomen which is one of the major symptoms of gallstones. This pain can radiate to the back of the shoulder and chest as well. Removal of your gallbladder will help in relieving this pain which can be severe and frequent.
- No more vomiting & nausea: Nausea & vomiting are common symptoms of all types of gallbladder problems. If you have chronic gallbladder diseases due to gallstone, then you may suffer from acid reflux and gas. So, by removing your gallbladder, you will be free from nausea, vomiting, gas, and acid reflux.
- Controlling the spread of infection: If you have unexplained fever or chills, then it can be an indication of the infection in your body. Gallstones can cause infection and can affect your gallbladder. If this infection is left untreated, it can spread all over your body and becomes life-threatening.
- Stops chronic diarrhea: In the case of chronic gallbladder diseases due to gallstones, you may suffer from diarrhea that leads you to have more than four [4] bowel movements per day for at least three [3] months. So, treating gallstones by removing the gallbladder is the safest way to treat chronic gallbladder disease.
- Curing gallbladder cancer: If you are diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and detected at the early stage, your Oncologist may suggest the removal of the gallbladder to stop cancer spread to other organs.
- Cures jaundice due to gallstones: You can have yellowish skin due to blockage of bile ducts by gallstones. If you leave gallstones untreated, then they can affect your overall health and can lead to a serious situation. So, by removing the gallbladder, you can prevent the blockage of bile ducts and cures jaundice caused by gallstones.
- Treating inflammation of gallbladder & pancreas: Gallstones can block your pancreatic ducts and bile ducts, leads inflammation of the pancreas [pancreatitis] and inflammation of gallbladder [cholecystitis]. So, gallbladder removal surgery helps in treating pancreatitis and cholecystitis.
- Preventing gallstone ileus: In rare cases, you may develop gallstone ileus as gallstones travel to your intestine and block it. By removing your gallbladder, gallstones can be treated and thus prevents the gallstone ileus.
Care to be taken after surgery:
After the gallbladder removal, your surgeon will provide a few instructions and are:
- Don’t include fried food items in your diet such as pizza, french fries, potato chips, and chocolate, etc.
- Eat fiber-rich foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
- Use painkillers that are prescribed by the doctor to avoid any pain from the surgical site.
- Within a week, the stitches get closed. If not, consult the doctor after a week or two from the date of surgery.
- Don’t put pressure on the stitches.
- Avoid performing strenuous exercises for a week.
- Try to relax all the time and avoid stress.
- Limit the intake of caffeine, dairy products, and sweet foods.
If you experience any of the following after the surgery, please consult your doctor immediately.
- Return of gallstone symptoms like jaundice, fever, and severe pain the upper right side of the abdomen.
- Persistently feeling sick or vomiting.
- Dark urine or pale stools.
Takeaway:
You can develop gallstones symptoms all of a sudden and require medical attention. So, most of the surgeons and doctors all around the world suggest gallbladder removal is the best, safe, and effective surgery for treating gallstones. Gallbladder removal surgery doesn’t affect your daily life and the bile can be directly dripped into the intestine for digestion of food.
However, every surgery comes with certain risks and complications. But, gallbladder removal surgery has more benefits than risks. Before undergoing gallbladder surgery, discuss with your doctor about its risks and complications.