Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. This procedure is largely performed laparoscopically, which means that instead of one long incision, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen, and inserts a laparoscope, a thin, lighted tube that allows viewing of internal organs. This type of surgery is much less invasive than traditional open surgery and the healing time is easier and quicker. However, this procedure does come with possible complications.
Bleeding and Blood Clots
Because laparoscopic surgery still involves incisions and cuts, both in the abdomen and for the separation of the gallbladder from the attached tissue, there is the potential for excessive bleeding to occur. Additionally, there is a small chance that a blood clot may occur, which may cause problems if it lodges in blood vessels and disrupts normal blood flow.
Infection
Surgeons use sterile techniques to minimize the chance of infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, entering the abdomen; however, Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology, a medical practice that performs laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, notes that infection is a still a potential complication of this type of surgery. Severe cases of infection may progress to pneumonia, which is inflammation of the lungs resulting in coughing, fever, and/or difficulty breathing.
Injury
The Society for American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeon notes that another possible complication of laparoscopic gall bladder surgery is unintended injury to other organs in the abdominal cavity. If this complication does occur, the organs affected are usually either the common bile duct or the small intestine, which are both located in the same region of the abdomen as the gallbladder. If the injury is severe, the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology notes that additional surgery may be required to treat or correct the injury.
Conversion to Open Surgery
The Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases in the Department of Surgery at the University of Southern California also provides information about laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, noting that in less than 5 percent of cases, the surgeon decides that a laparoscopic procedure needs to be converted to traditional open surgery in which the abdominal cavity is opened via one long incision. This decision is made when the surgeon decides that he cannot safely remove the gallbladder because of scarring, or the fact that the anatomy is not clearly discernible. Open surgery provides the surgeon with a clear view of the gallbladder and other organs in the abdominal cavity so that the gallbladder can be safely removed.
