The gall bladder, a small non-vital gland located in the upper right section of the abdomen, stores bile created in the liver until it is needed by the small intestine to help break down foods containing fat. When the tubes leading from the gall bladder to the small intestine (bile ducts) are blocked due to inflammation or infection, bile is trapped in the gall bladder. Gall bladder surgery may be recommended to correct the problem. Complications including infections are rare, but do occur.
Surgery and Precautions
During laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, several small abdominal incisions are created for removal. If the laparoscopic procedure cannot be completed due to complications, a more invasive open surgery in performed in which the gall bladder is removed through one large incision. Both procedures are performed under general anesthetic in a hospital.
The insertion of foreign objects into the body during either procedure, such as surgical instruments, as well as exposing the internal organs to outside air, increases the risk of infection. Sterilization of medical instruments, hand scrubbing, gowns and masks minimize exposure to bacteria or viruses. Antibiotics may also be prescribed prior to or during surgery to minimize this risk.
Hospital Stay
The less-invasive laparoscopic procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Patients remain in the hospital recovery room for several hours to monitor progress and confirm there are no complications due to an adverse reaction to the anesthetic or infection. Patients are discharged later in the day with self-care instructions, including monitor for infection or other complications. Patients who have undergone the more-invasive open procedure remain in the hospital for up to six days of monitoring and supervised recovery.
Pain
Pain is to be expected after gall bladder surgery due to gas entering the body and organs being shifted during the removal process. While pain tolerance varies on an individual basis, it should continue to subside in the days after the surgery. Contact your physician if pain does not diminish, prescribed medications are not helping or if the pain begins to worsen. These symptoms may indicate the presence of additional gallstones or the development of an infection.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung inflammation caused by an infection. It occasionally occurs after any type of surgery, most commonly abdominal surgery, due to shallow breathing, retention of mucous and impaired coughing ability during recovery. You will be required to perform deep breathing exercise, with or without help from an incentive spirometer machine, to help your lungs continue to function and minimize the risk of developing pneumonia.
Wound Infection
The incision sites from gall bladder surgery are generally closed with stitches, surgical staples or steri-strip adhesive skin closures. Return to see your doctor to have the stitches or staples removed approximately 10 days after surgery. The steri-strips will dissolve on their own. Before the wound completely closes, change bandages as directed and keep the area dry. Showers are usually allowed, but submersion in a bathtub is not while the wound is open. Monitor the wound drainage when changing your bandages. Contact your physician immediately if the normal drainage develops a yellow color and thickened consistency. This type of pus-filled drainage usually indicates an infection.
Bile Duct Complications
Infection can result from bile duct injury during the removal of the gall bladder. Bile ducts are the tubes that drain from the liver into the gall bladder as well as from the gall bladder into the small intestine. Sometimes one of the surgical instruments can scrape one of the ducts, causing a small nick and bile leaking into the abdomen. This leakage can cause a potentially painful, serious infection. If pain does not decrease in the days following surgery, or it begins to worsen, this may mean that an infection from a bile duct injury has developed. Contact your health care provider for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Pancreatitis
Another possible complication from gall bladder surgery is pancreatitis, the inflammation and infection of the pancreas. If you experience prolonged fever, pain, nausea, vomiting or jaundice, this may indicate the development of pancreatitis. Contact your physician for treatment that typically includes pain management and restoring the body's fluid and electrolyte balance.
