The liver is the organ that produces bile, a digestive juice that helps in digestion and breaks down the fat into fatty acids. Bile carries out waste products like cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and gets released into the intestine whenever required. If bile is not released and contains high levels of bilirubin or cholesterol, it gets deposited in the gallbladder and forms into either large or small hard structures called gallstones.
If you are suffering from gallstones and didn’t notice any signs or symptoms, your doctor will suggest watchful waiting. In case you notice any of the gallstone symptoms, then your doctor recommends undergoing a gallbladder removal surgery that helps in treating and preventing the gallstones.
Preparation for Gallbladder removal surgery:
Gallbladder removal surgery helps in treating and preventing the formation of gallstones. This surgery is also known as cholecystectomy where the infected or damaged gallbladder is removed surgically. Your doctor evaluates the severity of your disease condition and decides whether to perform a gallbladder removal surgery or not. If you are suffering from any of the following conditions or symptoms of gallstones, your doctor may recommend gallbladder removal surgery.
- Indigestion
- Severe & sharp abdominal pain with fever
- Jaundice [the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes turn yellow because of a high level of bilirubin]
- Choledocholithiasis [gallstones in the bile duct]
- Cholecystitis [gallbladder inflammation]
- Gallbladder polyps
- Pancreatitis [inflammation of the pancreas]
In case you are undergoing gallbladder removal surgery, you should know about what is the preparation required before undergoing it.
Here are preparation tips required for gallbladder removal surgery:
- Talk to your doctor about your past and present medical and medication history.
- Inform your doctor if you are suffering from any bleeding or blood disorders and cancer as they can increase the risk of complications of surgery.
- Tell your surgeon or doctor if you have undergone any recent or past liver surgery or stomach surgery.
- If you are allergic to any of the medicines, inform the doctor or surgeon. If possible, show all your past and present list of medications to your doctor.
- Inquire your doctor about the benefits, risks, and complications associated with gallbladder removal surgery.
- You may be advised to stop taking certain medications like blood thinners a week before and after the surgery, as they can enhance the bleeding and slow down the healing process.
- Smoking can narrow your blood vessels and lead to reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the wound. This causes poor healing of the wound and increases the recovery time. So, you will be advised to stop smoking two [2] to three [3] weeks before and after the surgery.
- To evaluate the disease condition, your doctor may recommend a few lab tests or imaging tests before surgery. Ask your doctor for more information about those lab tests and imaging tests that you may need.
You should stop eating from midnight on the night before the surgery.
- To prevent any infection during the surgery, you will be given an antibiotic medication before undergoing the surgery.
- It is advised to wear something loose-fitting and comfortable that you can easily remove and put back on.
- You will be advised to leave all your valuables at home including watches and jewelry.
- Either on the day of the surgery or before the surgery, you will be asked to remove any piercings, contact lenses, hearing aids, and dentures.
- Before the surgery, you or your close family members will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. Signing the consent form gives your surgeon permission to do the surgery. The consent form explains all the problems or risks that may happen during the surgery.
- Before signing the consent form, make sure all your questions are answered or explained.
- Once everything is checked and you have signed the consent form. You will be escorted to the changing room where you will wear a hospital gown.
- An anesthesiologist will sedate you using either local or general anesthesia and may inform you which type of anesthesia is being used and why. All your vital signs will be monitored throughout the surgery.
Conclusion:
Before undergoing gallbladder removal surgery, you should inform all your past & present medical and medication history to your doctor, as it helps to find the cause of gallstone or the presence of any underlying disease. You can contact your doctor or surgeon and have a discussion in case you have any queries or to know more about the gallbladder removal surgery. However, follow all the instructions and directions suggested by your doctor to have a seamless surgical experience. If you start noticing gallstone symptoms even after threec[3] to four [4] weeks of the surgery, you should contact the doctor immediately for further assistance.
