Gall bladder surgery (called cholecystectomy) is usually performed to remove the entire gall bladder because the patient is experiencing pain from gall stones.  Or, sometimes the patient's gall bladder doesn't contract appropriately in response to a fatty meal (called dyskinesia).

Surgery is usually completed through four small incisions, the largest is almost an inch and is placed near the belly button.  Any time surgery is done through small holes (laparoscopic), there is always a chance of having to make a large incision (open).  This happens quite rarely and usually occurs because we can't see clearly enough with the small holes.  But again, this happens quite rarely.

The risk that the wrong structure (artery to the liver or common bile duct) will be cut or injured is quoted in the literature as being 1 in 5000.  This is a very rare risk and Dr. Beane has not had any of these injuries.

Things to know about this surgery:

• Eat a LOW FAT DIET before and after your surgery.  By eating fatty meals before surgery, you might cause a gall bladder attack.  After your gall bladder has been removed, your body requires some time to adjust to this removal.  Usually about 4-6 weeks goes by until you can tolerate fatty meals again.  If you have too much fat in your diet too soon, you may experience abdominal cramps, pain and loose stools.  This won't cause a problem, it is just uncomfortable.  Don't eat that amount of fat again for at least a week before you try it again.  Some people will not be able to tolerate very fatty meals ever again, but this is uncommon.
• This surgery is "outpatient" for most people, meaning that you go home the same day of your surgery.  Most times, you're at the hospital a hour or two before your surgery; the surgery takes about an hour.  You'll spent about an hour in the recovery room, and then your family will join you at your room for the day.  When you're up moving around, your pain is well-controlled, and you're eating OK, you'll go home.  Most people spend between 6-8 hours at the hospital on the day of their surgery.  On rare occasion, a patient spends the night, usually because of nausea, but again, this is rare.
• Most people take a week, sometimes two weeks off from work.  Most people take narcotic pain pills for 3-5 days after surgery.  You cannot drive while taking narcotics and you shouldn't be working or caring for children or other adults.
• You will need to limit your lifting to less than 20 pounds for at least two weeks after your surgery, maybe longer if you do very strenuous work.  This will help limit your risk of a hernia at the incision sites.
• The most common risk is infection, this happens very rarely.  Bleeding is also a possibility, but again is quite rare.
   

The most important thing to remember is that people do well with this surgery and feel better because of it.  There are always risks to any surgery, but they are very rare with this surgery.