Gallbladder is a small and pear-shaped organ of the digestive system located in the upper and right side of the abdomen. Its function is to store bile produced by the liver to break down fatty foods. If there are any problems, including the accumulation of stones in the gallbladder, the doctor may recommend opening the gallbladder. In this case, the gallbladder is completely removed.
Gallstones are hard lumps in the form of pebbles or stones of a few millimeters or a few centimeters that are formed over time in the gallbladder under the liver. Open gallbladder surgery or laparoscopic gallbladder surgery are two methods to remove gallstones. Which of these methods is right for you depends on your physical condition and your doctor’s diagnosis. It is important for you to know that you can live a healthy life without a gallbladder. If you are struggling with gallstones, open gallbladder surgery can make positive changes in your life and forever save you from pain and discomfort when eating. Of course, annoying symptoms can also occur during the day and night and cause disruption in daily activities.
Gallbladder operation
In this article, we have tried to fully examine the open operation of the gallbladder and answer all your questions in this field. So keep reading till the end.
Why is gallbladder surgery performed?
If gallbladder symptoms such as fever, sweating, nausea and vomiting, pain between the shoulders, especially the right shoulder, and sudden pain in the upper right side of the abdomen disrupt your life, you should immediately see a doctor for treatment measures, including open gallbladder surgery for You should consider that if you do not pay attention and treat this problem on time, it can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). In this case, pancreatic enzymes are secreted to the outside and cause burning and inflammation of the pancreas. But how is open gallbladder surgery?
What is gallbladder surgery?
To perform this surgery to open the gallbladder, it is necessary to make an incision in the upper right part of the abdomen and under the ribs. The incisions allow the surgeon to gain sufficient control over the gallbladder and separate it from other organs. After the gallbladder is removed, the incisions are sutured.
Necessary preparations for open gallbladder surgery
In order for any surgery to have successful results, the patient must take basic measures before the operation in accordance with the doctor’s instructions so that there are no problems during the open gallbladder surgery and after. To perform open gallbladder surgery, you must have the necessary preparations as follows: verywellhealth
Talk to your doctor about your medications. Some drugs are anti-coagulants and can challenge the surgical process and increase bleeding during or after surgery. Of course, stopping or taking any medication should be under the supervision of a doctor. The use of medicines and supplements containing vitamin E, aspirin, etc. should be avoided.
Follow a healthy diet so that the body is better prepared for healing and repair after surgery.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for at least a few weeks before the operation, as these substances can weaken and disrupt blood flow.
Stay active and keep exercising. This, like nutrition, can help speed up the healing process.
Preparation on the day of laparotomy cholecystectomy surgery
If you are going to undergo open gallbladder surgery, you will be asked the following:
Do not eat or drink for a few hours before the open gallbladder surgery
Take a bath and clean the area for surgery
Take the medications prescribed by the doctor on the day of surgery with only a small sip of water
Have a companion with you to help you after the operation
Necessary tests before open gallbladder surgery
Tests before open gallbladder surgery
Before open gallbladder surgery, you may be asked to have the following tests to check your general health:
Blood test (full blood count, electrolytes)
X-ray imaging of the chest
Electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart and lung patients
X-ray imaging of the gallbladder
Ultrasound of the gallbladder
How is open gallbladder surgery performed?
The following steps must be followed to perform open gallbladder removal, which is also known as open cholecystectomy:
First, the patient will be under general anesthesia so that he does not feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery
Then the doctor makes 12 to 17 cm incisions in the upper part of the abdomen and under the ribs on the right side. Surgery in this way allows the doctor to have a wider field of vision than the gallbladder.
In the next step, the surgeon cuts the bile ducts and blood vessels that lead to the gallbladder to separate it from the rest of the internal organs.
Now the gallbladder is slowly removed
In the last stage of open gallbladder surgery, the incisions are sutured
How long is the operation of the gallbladder?
The duration of gallbladder surgery varies based on the type of technique the doctor chooses. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gallbladder removal takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Open gallbladder surgery takes more time. Surgery in this method usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Of course, to perform any surgery, the patient must prepare for the operation about two hours in advance. After the surgery, the patient may stay in the recovery room for about 1 to 2 hours until the effects of the anesthetic wear off and the patient regains consciousness.
How long should you stay in the hospital after gallbladder surgery?
You may need to stay in the hospital after open gallstone surgery. During this time, you may be asked to do the following to speed up the healing process: