What kind of dr does gallbladder surgery

David G. Pearson, M. Stephanie F. Polites, M. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kim SS, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Lamberts MP. Indications of cholecystectomy in gallstone disease. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Soper NJ, et al. Accessed July 1, American College of Surgeons. Lee SR, et al. Reasonable cholecystectomy of gallbladder polyp — 10 years of experience. Asian Journal of Surgery. You may need to stop taking these medicines before the procedure. If this is an outpatient procedure, you will need to have someone drive you home afterward. You may have a cholecystectomy as an outpatient or as part of your stay in a hospital.

The way the surgery is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices. A cholecystectomy is generally done while you are given medicines to put you into a deep sleep under general anesthesia. A tube will be put down your throat to help you breathe. The anesthesiologist will check your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. An incision will be made. The incision may slant under your ribs on the right side of your abdomen.

Or it may be made in the upper part of your abdomen. In some cases, 1 or more drains may be put into the incision. This allows drainage of fluids or pus. About 3 or 4 small incisions will be made in your abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas will be put into your abdomen so that it swells up. This lets the gallbladder and nearby organs be easily seen.

The laparoscope will be put into an incision. Surgical tools will be put through the other incisions to remove your gallbladder. When the surgery is done, the laparoscope and tools are removed. The carbon dioxide gas is let out through the incisions. Most of it will be reabsorbed by your body. After the procedure, you will be taken to the recovery room to be watched.

Your recovery process will depend on the type of surgery and the type of anesthesia you had. Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are awake and alert, you will be taken to your hospital room. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be done on an outpatient basis. In this case, you may be discharged home from the recovery room. You will get pain medicine as needed.

A nurse may give it to you. Or you may give it to yourself through a device connected to your IV intravenous line. You may have a thin plastic tube that goes through your nose into your stomach.

This is to remove air that you swallow. The tube will be taken out when your bowels are working normally. You may have 1 or more drains in the incision if an open procedure was done. The drains will be removed in a day or so. You might be discharged with the drain still in and covered with a dressing. You will be asked to get out of bed a few hours after a laparoscopic procedure or by the next day after an open procedure. Depending on your situation, you may be given liquids to drink a few hours after surgery.

You will slowly be able to eat more solid foods as tolerated. Arrangements will be made for a follow-up visit with your provider. This is usually 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. Your provider will give you specific bathing instructions. Most people won't experience digestive problems after a cholecystectomy.

Your gallbladder isn't essential to healthy digestion. Some people may experience occasional loose stool after the procedure, which generally resolves over time. Discuss with your doctor any changes in your bowel habits or new symptoms following your procedure. How quickly you can return to normal activities after a cholecystectomy depends on which procedure your surgeon uses and your overall health. People undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be able to go back to work in a matter of days.

Those undergoing an open cholecystectomy may need a week or more to recover enough to return to work. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A cholecystectomy koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-me is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ that sits just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen.

Gallstones Open pop-up dialog box Close. Gallstones Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in your gallbladder. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kim SS, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lamberts MP. Indications of cholecystectomy in gallstone disease.

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Soper NJ, et al. Accessed July 1,