Gallbladder Laparoscopic Surgery Perth

What is bile and why do I have a gallbladder?

Bile is both a digestive juice to break down fats and a way for the body to get rid of some products of metabolism. It is produced in the liver and excreted into the bile duct. Some is collected in the gallbladder as a storage reservoir.

The gallbladder is stimulated to contract by  the presence of food in the gut and releases extra bile for digestion at mealtimes. Bile does flow between meals in a less concentrated form. 

Most of us have enough fat available in our diet nowadays making the gallbladder a slightly redundant organ.

Why do we form gallstones?

Most gallstones are formed in patients without a clear underlying reason, and are thought to be due to altered cholesterol metabolism, hormones and genetics. 

Some patients have blood disorders, cholesterol issues or chronic infection in the bile ducts which can cause rare types of stones.

Are gallstones dangerous?

Mild complications such as painful colic, infection, inflammation and jaundice are most common.  Serious complications from gallstones including cholangitis and pancreatitis can cause severe illness and even death.

What are symptoms from gallstones?

Typical gallbladder symptoms include pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating which can radiate to the back or shoulders. Some patients have nausea or vomiting, and some patients only feel indigestion after eating or bloating. Higher fat foods may be more triggering in some patients. 

What are my treatment options for gallstones?

In the past, both medications to dissolve stones and mechanically breaking down stones has been trialled with limited success with most patients requiring gallbladder removal eventually.  In some centres, the stones have been removed surgically, leaving the gallbladder intact though this is not mainstream care in Australia and has a moderate complication rate and recurrence rate of stone formation. 

The ideal treatment remains minimally invasive cholecystectomy, a procedure that can be performed as a day case in some centres, with a low complication rate and high satisfaction rate.

What if the stones get out of the gallbladder?

Gallstones often migrate down the cystic duct into the main bile duct. Around 7% of people are found to have stones in the bile duct on cholangiography at the time of surgery. These stones can often be removed with a camera and tiny basket being inserted via a keyhole port into the main bile duct. In some cases a procedure called ERCP* is required to further clear the stones. Dr Webber is trained in this procedure and regularly performs this at public and private hospitals.

*An ERCP is a procedure used to diagnose and treat problems in the gallbladder using a flexible tube with a camera and light attached to it and X-rays. Learn more about this procedure on our ERCP patient info page.

What are the complications of surgery?

The vast majority of patients have no issues from surgery, are discharged the next day and seen in the rooms in a few weeks. General complications from surgery include pain, bruising, blood clots, pneumonias and urinary tract infections. More serious complications such as heart attack and stroke are less frequent.

Specific complications to gallbladder removal include:

• leak of bile (1/300)

• bleeding (1/500)

• damage to the main bile duct (1/2000-5000)

• More serious complications are possible but rare.

The risk of mortality in Australia from keyhole surgery is around 1/5000 procedures. 

What should I expect on the day of my laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

You will need to come to the hospital about 90 minutes before surgery and you will be given an exact time by the rooms staff around 48h prior to the day of the operation. This allows plenty of time for parking and registration. Once you are checked in, you will be taken to the pre-op area where you will change into an appropriate gown and will then meet with the nurses and the anaesthetists. Dr Webber will see you to check you in and answer any questions prior to going into the theatre. Procedure time is about 1-1.5 hours, after which you will spend about two hours recovering then will return to the surgical ward. You will be able to eat and drink as usual that night in most cases and will be planned for discharge the next day. 

Find out more on our gallbladder surgery patient info page.

What should I expect after my laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?

Most people can return to work about one week after their gallbladder surgery and resume normal exercise two weeks after surgery.

Since the gallbladder is important to the digestion of fats, it is important to stay on a low fat diet the first few weeks after surgery. Over time, the body will adjust and patients can typically eat whatever they want. However, fatty foods should slowly be added to the diet. If fats are added too quickly, patients may feel crampy abdominal pain, loose stools and bloating.

The wounds are closed with dissolving sutures (deep fascia closed with ‘PDS’ lasting 180 days, skin closed with ‘monocryl’ lasting 3 - 4 weeks) and then covered with glue. You may remove the outer dressings after 3 - 5 days then let the glue flake off over two weeks.

Let the rooms know if you have any wound issues and don’t hesitate to send us photographs if needed.