Treatments | General Surgery | Gallbladder removal | St Josephs Hospital - Newport South Wales
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Gallbladder surgery

Gallbladder removal surgery is an operation to remove your gallbladder. It is also known as a cholecystectomy (lap chole when performed laparoscopically) and is a commonly performed procedure. The main reason for removal of the gallbladder is due to significant pain caused by the gall stones.

For most patients this pain presents as upper abdominal pain particularly in the upper right hand corner of the abdomen and usually occurs after eating rich food. The pain can sometimes be associated with nausea or pain radiating to the back of the shoulder blades. In more severe attacks, this can also be associated with inflammation of the gallbladder causing a fever and pain lasting longer than two hours.

Gallstones are a result of the patient producing a bile from the liver that has a strong concentration of bile and cholesterol which then forms the stones. They are also the result high levels of cholesterol inside the gallbladder or high levels of waste produce called bilirubin inside the gallbladder.

Before surgery patients will undergo an assessment in the hospital. The may include blood tests and a general health check to make sure that the patient is fit enough for surgery. Patients will be advised about what they can do to reduce their risk of complications following surgery, this may include losing weight and stopping smoking.

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