Gall Bladder Surgery

Cholecystectomy (Gall Bladder Removal)

The gallbladder is a small sac that holds bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver that is used in the breakdown of dietary fats. The gallbladder extracts water from its store of bile until the liquid becomes highly concentrated. The presence of fatty foods triggers the gallbladder to squeeze its bile concentrate into the small intestine.

Gallstones (biliary calculi) are small stones made from cholesterol, bile pigment and calcium salts, usually in a mixture that forms in the gallbladder. They are a common disorder of the digestive system, and affects around 15% of people aged 45 years and over. However this is increasingly a modern disease, where younger patients are being diagnosed and treated.

Some things that may cause gallstones to form include the crystallisation of excess cholesterol in bile and the failure of the gallbladder to empty completely.

A cholecystectomy is surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Why is the procedure performed?

Sometimes the gallbladder becomes blocked with gallstones that form from within the bile and can cause pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Other complications can also occur, including inflammation of the gallbladder, inflammation of the pancreas, jaundice and infection.

In these cases, a cholecystectomy is performed under general anaesthetic to remove the gallbladder. Sometimes, gallstones can move into your common bile duct. Bile ducts are 'pipes' that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine. A cholecystectomy and exploration of the bile duct is a procedure to remove your gallbladder as well as any stones found in your common bile duct.

What happens during the procedure?

Dr Golani has performed many cholecystectomies (gall bladder operations) over his career. He specialises in Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. This is a minimally invasive approach which has an advantage over open surgery as it only requires small incisions in the abdomen versus the large single incision of open surgery. Most patients will experience less pain, a quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay with laparoscopic surgery.

Dr Golani will make 4 small cuts (incisions) in your abdomen so they can introduce a piece of equipment known as a laparoscopic telescope through one of the incisions. This will allow them to see inside your abdomen.

A equipment known as a laparoscopic telescope is inserted in one of the incisions to see inside your abdomen. Then metal tubes will pass through the other incisions. Dr Golani will put carbon dioxide inside you to lift the wall of the abdomen away from the organs. They will then use surgical clips to close off the ducts and arteries leading to the gallbladder and remove the gallbladder with instruments inserted through the tubes.

After the gallbladder has been removed, the carbon dioxide is allowed to escape before the incisions are stitched. The clips will stay inside you.

If your gallbladder is very inflamed you may need 'open cholecystectomy', which requires a larger cut in your upper abdomen.

What to expect after the procedure?

You will be monitored in recovery for some time and will normally be able to go home within 24 hours. You may have some side effects from the general anaesthetic such as a headache, nausea or vomiting, which can be controlled with medicine.

You will have some pain in your abdomen after the operation, which can be controlled using pain relief. You may also have some pain in your shoulder from the gas used in the operation, which can be eased with walking.

You will have a drip in your arm at first, which will be removed after the anaesthetic wears off. You can take sips of water at first then slowly get back to eating and drinking normally.

• No driving for 5 days post-discharge from hospital
• Your dressings are waterproof so you can shower as normal
• Do not sit/soak in a bath for 10 days
• Leave your dressings in place for 7 days
• Use regular fibre supplement such a Metamucil will help avoid constipation
• Walking unrestricted is allowed post discharge
• Cycling/running/swimming is allowed 2 weeks post discharge
• Lifting weights may cause complications for your surgery. Limit lifting anything heavier than 8kgs for 4 weeks post-surgery. Additionally, you should not lift anything heavier than 15kgs for 8 weeks post-surgery
• No special diet post-surgery is required to be followed
• Make an appointment to see Dr Golani 4 weeks post-surgery

Contact Us

To make an initial consultation booking, please contact our office on 02 8599 9819.

Main Clinic Address:

Madison Building
Suite 7, 25-29 Hunter St,
Hornsby NSW 2077

Phone: (02) 8599 9819

HealthLink: drgolani

Fax: (02) 9012 0976
Email: info@drgolani.com.au
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Our Horsnby clinic is located conviniently next to Hornsby Westfield & Hornsby Station
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What do I bring to my appointment?

• Referral letter
• X-Rays/Scans
• Test results relating to referral
• Health fund card
• Medicare card