The side effects of cholecystectomy, or surgical removal of the gallbladder, range widely in degree of severity. The gallbladder is a small oblong organ positioned beside the liver, just above the right side of the stomach. It gathers and stores bile, a digestive fluid. Sometimes the fluid hardens and forms gallstones. Gallbladder surgery is the preferred treatment for gallstones. In the July 2006 issue of "Archives of Surgery," Dr. Leon Morgenstern wrote that in the United States, surgeons perform approximately 500,000 to 750,000 gallbladder surgeries each year.
Infection
Although infection is a potential side effect of gallbladder removal, it is relatively rare, affecting just 1 in 1,000 laparoscopic surgery patients, according to the American College of Surgeons. There are two types of gallbladder surgery; laparoscopic and open. With laparoscopic surgery, a surgeon will make three or four small incisions to remove the gallbladder and the surgery can typically be performed on an outpatient basis. In about 1 percent of cases, a surgeon will have to perform an open surgery due to a patient's unique anatomy. Open surgery requires a much larger incision.
Chronic Diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea is a common side effect after surgery and in fact can linger years after the gallbladder is removed. After the gallbladder is removed, bile that would normally be stored there flows freely through the abdomen. This can increase the amount of bile acid flowing directly to the small intestines, possibly serving as a natural laxative. To counteract the symptoms, patients should avoid certain foods such as dairy products, sugary foods and foods or drinks containing caffeine.
Hernia
After gallbladder surgery, some patients may develop a hernia at the incision site. In the October 2007 issue of the "Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques," Dr. Hatim Y. Uslu wrote that obese women over age 60 were particularly susceptible to developing a hernia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In Dr. Uslu's study, those patients who developed hernias also experienced longer surgery times than those patients who did not develop hernias.
References
- "Archives of Surgery"; Risk Management Observations From Litigation Involving Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Dr. Leon Morgenstern; July 2006
- American College of Surgeons: Cholecystectomy
- MayoClinic.com: Cholecystectomy
- "Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques"; Trocar Site Hernia After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Dr. Hatim Y. Uslu.; October 2007
