Gallbladder surgery, the clinical term for which is cholecystectomy, is a procedure routinely performed at hospitals around the country. A laparoscopic procedure, the most common type of gallbladder surgery being performed, involves the removal of the gallbladder from a small incision with tools inserted through other small incisions in the abdomen. The recovery from laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is much less difficult and painful than traditional open surgery that involves one long incision in the abdomen. Complications may occur after surgery.
Injury to Nearby Organs
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is much less invasive than open surgery, but the surgeon cannot see the anatomy of the abdominal cavity as well. For this procedure, the abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to allow the surgeon room to access the gallbladder with surgical tools. To locate the proper site, an imaging tool is also inserted into the abdomen to transmit an image of the abdominal cavity to a monitor. Even using these tools it's possible for the surgeon to nick or cut nearby organs, according to the Harvard Medical Center. The organ most often affected is the common bile duct, a tube that connects the gallbladder-associated cystic duct. MayoClinic.com adds that the small intestine and liver may be injured during this type of surgery.
Infection
As with all types of surgical procedures, one complication of gallbladder surgery is infection of the incision wound. The surgeons and nurses performing gallbladder surgery make every possible effort to keep the incision site sterile during surgery. However, there is the risk that viruses, fungi, or bacteria present on the skin can infect the incision wound. Baylor College of Medicine reports that the symptoms of a bacterial infection include fever; pain that worsens over time; a very red, warm, and swollen incision; or drainage from the incision wound. Baylor College of Medicine recommends contacting the doctor immediately if these symptoms arise after gallbladder surgery.
Other Complications
The Harvard School of Medicine notes that other complications are also possible with gallbladder surgery. In 5 to 10 percent of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, the surgeon chooses to change from a laparoscopic approach to a traditional open surgical approach. This decision may be made due to unclear anatomy of the abdominal cavity, excessive bleeding or presence of scar tissue that makes the procedure more complicated.
MayoClinic.com also reports other possible complications, including leakage of bile from the ducts that were previously attached to the gallbladder; blood clots or heart problems; and inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis. If these complications are very severe, they may even result in death. However, MayoClinic.com notes that the level of risk for these complications depends on underlying conditions and the overall health of the patient, which differs with each person.
