Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a gallbladder removal operation in which the surgeon makes keyhole incisions of about one-half inch in diameter near the abdomen, and inserts a laparoscope and multiple plastic tubes, or catheters, through them. The laparoscope visually examines the interior of the abdomen and transmits images of the surgical site to a video display. Post operative complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are infrequent, and the recovery time is short.
Infection
Infection of an incision is an uncommon complication associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The use of drains after surgery to prevent abdominal collections may increase the likelihood of wound infection and the length of hospital stay, notes PubMed.com. The incubation period between the infection and the manifestation of the complications is normally four to seven days or more after surgery. The classic signs of an infection with laparoscopic cholecystectomy include malaise, fever and abdominal pain.
Constipation
Constipation and intestinal gas pain are common post-surgical complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Anesthesia and pain medications, administered during surgery, may disturb a patient's bowel function, causing constipation and diarrhea, according to the West County Surgical Specialists Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri. In most cases, these complications are not severe, and settle down within two to three days.
Bile Duct Injury
Complications such as bleeding, infections and damage to the common bile duct that transports bile from the liver to the duodenum, are largely due to a major accidental surgical injury to the bile duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This potentially life-threatening complication occurs in about 0.5 to 0.6 percent people undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, according to the "Journal of Medical Case Reports". These injuries require another surgery, and the patients face a prolonged hospital stay.
References
- University of Southern California: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- World Laparoscopy Hospital: Frequently Asked Questions About Laparoscopic Post-Operative Care
- PubMed.com: Routine Abdominal Drainage for Uncomplicated Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; K.S. Gurusamy and K Samraj; April 18, 2007
- West County Surgical Specialists Inc.: Post-Operative Instructions After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- Journal of Medical Case Reports: Management of Major Bile Duct Injury After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Case Report; Andreas Manouras et al.; Jan. 31, 2009
