Gall Bladder Surgery Risks

The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile for digestion and is located on the right side of the body, behind the liver. When the gallbladder becomes diseased or the ducts blocked with gallstones, surgery may be necessary to remove it.

Risks with Surgery

• When the gallbladder needs to be removed due to gallstones or disease, a doctor using the basic surgical technique will make a single incision large enough to take out the organ. Risks associated with this invasive surgery include excessive internal bleeding or infection.

Anesthesia Risk

• In some cases, a patient may have a reaction to the anesthesia that is used. Mild reactions include muscle aches or nausea, but in severe cases, a patient might have a difficult time waking up. In the worst instances, his heart could stop.

Laparoscopic Surgery Rrisk

• The most common gallbladder surgery is the laparoscopic. The doctor makes small incisions and removes the organ using a laparoscope inserted into the incision. Recovery time is faster and pain is generally less than in basic surgery, but there are still risks, such as infection in the incisions, abnormal bleeding and damage to the liver or the intestines caused by the laparoscope. As with any anesthesia, there is a risk that the patient will have a reaction.

Post-Surgery Risk

• There can be post-surgery risks.

  After surgery and during recovery, there are still risks. A patient could experience abnormal abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, fever or draining from the incision site.

Colon Cancer

• Eating healthy foods can reduce cancer risk.

  Researchers reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology that removing the gallbladder can heighten the risk of cancer of the colon. Therefore, it is advisable for surgical patients to reduce their chances of cancer by getting tested regularly, eating healthy foods and consuming plenty of fiber.