Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patient information

You will have a pre-operative assessment before your operation where a nurse will assess you. You will have necessary checks and tests to ensure you are prepared for the operation. 

Please bring a list or current prescription of any medications that you are taking. You will be given specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before your operation. 

When you come into hospital the surgeon and the anaesthetist will speak to you before your operation and you will be asked to sign a consent form.

Risks

All surgery carries risks. Possible complications of gallbladder surgery include:

• Minor or more serious bleeding
• Infection
•  Injury to the main bile pipes, which may require further surgery
• Leak of bile, which may need a further telescope test, or spillage of stones
• Injury or obstruction of the bowel or injury to the liver
• Red, thick or disfiguring scar
• A hernia at the scar site
• Persistent pain in your upper abdomen
• Persistent diarrhea
• Conversion to an open procedure

Grit or stones may occasionally be formed in the bile pipes several years after your surgery. Sometimes small stones may be spilled during the operation and this may cause some pain or infection within the abdomen. 1 in 10 patients may have persistent or recurrent pains or symptoms, similar to before the operation. These patients may require further investigations or procedures. 

General possible complications of all surgery include:

• Clots in the veins of the legs or in the lungs
• Chest complications (e.g. chest infection or heart attack)
• Hospital acquired infections (chest, urine, wound, diarrhoea)

In the case of serious complications, the hospital stay may be prolonged, which could mean you need a lot of time off work. Some complications may be so serious as to cause death.

Laparoscopic surgery

The operation will be done using a keyhole technique where a tube-shaped telescope, a laparoscope, is passed into your abdomen. Four or five small puncture wounds are made in your abdomen To remove the gallbladder. The whole procedure to remove the gallbladder usually takes about 60 minutes and you will be asleep under a general anaesthetic. Operating times may vary depending upon how the operation progresses.

In about 5 in 100 cases (5%) the gallbladder cannot be removed safely by keyhole surgery and the surgeon will need to convert to an ‘open’ operation, which will involve a 10-15cm incision in your abdomen. This is a bigger procedure and will mean a hospital stay of about 2-5 days and a longer period of recovery at home. 

After your operation

When you wake up you will probably have a drip connected to your arm to give you fluids. Occasionally the surgeons will place a drain into your abdomen and you may have a urinary catheter. 

You will usually be discharged the same day or the day after your operation. Your surgeon will inform you about this. If you are discharged on the same day as your operation, it is important that someone can take you home as you will be unable to drive and be with you for the first 24 hours as you will have had a general anesthetic. Your surgeon or a team member will let you know if you need to be seen again in the out-patient clinic or not. 

Pain

The pain around your wounds should settle within a week or so after your operation. 

After keyhole surgery it is common to get some pain around your shoulders. You may also feel a bit bloated. You will be given painkillers to take home with you. It is important you follow the instructions for how to take them. 
 

Wound care

You can remove the dressings 24-48 hours after your operation. You can shower or bathe as normal the day after your operation. 

Pat your wounds dry. The stitches should dissolve or peel away over a few weeks. 

A small number of people get a wound infection. If you get redness, swelling or increased pain around the site of your wound then contact your GP.

Driving

You can usually return to driving around two weeks after your operation, when you feel able to perform an emergency stop and drive safely without pain. 

You should inform your insurance company about your operation. Legally you cannot drive within 48 hours of having a general anaesthetic.  

Diet

For the first 24-48 hours after your operation it is advisable to eat light and plain foods. There are no formal dietary restrictions and you can resume a normal diet when you feel able. 

Some people find that fatty foods still cause discomfort in the long term so we would always recommend a healthy balanced diet.

Bowels

After your operation it is not uncommon to have some constipation. This is can be due to the anaesthetic or the painkillers. If this occurs take plenty of fibre in your diet and drink plenty of fluid. Taking the gallbladder out can also cause the stools to be looser than normal. If you experience loose stools your bowels will usually settle within a few weeks. If not, seek advice from your GP.

Activity

You may feel tired so it is advisable to take light activity for the first few days after your operation. You can return to normal physical and sexual activities as soon as you feel comfortable. Avoid vigorous exercise for at least two weeks. 

Most people return to work about two weeks after their operation but this depends on individual recovery and the type of work you do. If needed the team can give you a sick note for work.

If you are feeling unwell after your operation please seek medical advice immediately, especially if you have:

•    Severe pain 
•    High fever above 38 degrees Celsius
•    Increasing abdominal pain or swelling
•    Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes)
•    Discharge of blood or pus from your wounds 
•    Vomiting for more than three days after your surgery