Gallbladder Surgery
Approximately 15% of Americans have stones in their gallbladder, however, that doesn’t mean the gallbladder needs to be removed. But, when they start causing problems… there is relief ahead! Pain in the right upper area of your abdomen? Feelings of nausea? Associated with certain foods? You may need your gallbladder removed. About 1.5% of the American population needs their gallbladder removed each year! In this practice, we perform Robotic-Assisted Surgery with the additional benefit of using ICG. ICG is a green medicine that helps illuminate the structures in green above to make identification of important structures easier… which means safer for you!
What to Expect
Before Surgery:
Usually, an ultrasound and labs will be ordered and performed to look for stones, sludge, or other indications that your symptoms are coming from problems with your gallbladder. Then, a full discussion about the surgery will take place prior to scheduling the operation.
Day of Surgery:
You will be requested to stop eating and drinking at midnight on the day of surgery. You can take your morning meds with a sip of water, though. When you arrive at the hospital and get checked in, you will have green medicine placed through your IV to aid in identification of important structures during surgery. When you wake up, you can expect 4 small incisions (three 8mm and one 12-18mm) that are closed with sutures that dissolve on their own; they will also have sterile superglue on top of them. This is outpatient surgery, which means you will go home a couple of hours after you wake up!
After Surgery:
You may take a shower whenever you like but please do not submerge your incisions until the glue and scabs are gone (no bathing or swimming yet). Activity is as tolerated: meaning that if the task does not hurt, it is okay to perform. If what you are doing causes pain, please stop. Most people are back to normal activities within 48 hours. You will receive a prescription for pain meds at discharge, and you should augment these with Tylenol and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc). We will see you back in the office 2-3 weeks after surgery to make sure everything is going well, but feel free to call at any time if you are worried!
Ainsley Freshour, MD, FACS, DABS
Robotic, Minimally Invasive, and Bariatric Surgeon
Board Certified General Surgeon and Surgical Intensivist
