Cholecystectomy, or gallbladder surgery, is the surgical procedure for removing the gallbladder. The usual indications for cholecystectomy are symptomatic gallstone formation, gallbladder trauma, gallbladder cancer and other complications of gallstones, says a study published in January 1990 by the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine." Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which involves the use of a laparoscope, a lighted tube that enables a surgeon to look inside the patient's abdomen, is the usual procedure of choice for gallstone removal. Complications, while rare, may occur during the procedure.
Bleeding
Bleeding may occur during cholecystectomy. This may be a result of an accidental cut to the neighboring blood vessels within the surgical site. Bleeding can be solved by tying off the involved blood vessels during surgery. According to the book "Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management," one of the most feared injuries to any blood vessel during cholecystectomy is injury to the hepatic artery. Damage to the hepatic artery may cause excessive bleeding, which may result in diminished blood supply to the liver. Repair to this injured artery must be done right away to prevent the development of liver failure.
Injury to the Common Bile Duct
Injury to the common bile duct, the tube that carries bile from the gallbladder and liver to the small intestines, is seen in 0.1 to 0.5 percent of cases that use the laparoscopic approach, notes "Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management." Poor health or even death can possibly occur if the common bile duct is injured. Unfortunately, this complication is often missed during the surgical procedure. If the problem is recognized post-operatively, another surgery is warranted to correct the problem.
Perforation of the Gallbladder
Perforation of the gallbladder can sometimes occur gallbladder surgery, says "Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management." As a consequence, bile and gallstones may spill into the abdominal cavity. This, in turn, may result in subhepatic abscesses, pus-filled mass-like formations. Care is taken to prevent this complication, but should it occur surgeons must promptly identify and attempt to repair the damage. Any spilled stones must be removed from the abdominal cavity, and the cavity may be irrigated. Antibiotic treatment may be extended to help protect the patient from infection.
References
- "Cleveland Clinical Journal of Medicine"; What are the indications for cholecystectomy?; Potts, J.R.; January 1990
- "Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management"; Stephen R.T. Evans; 2009
- "World Journal of Surgery"; Gallbladder Perforation during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Leopoldo Sarli, Nicola Pietra, et al; 1999
