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Gallbladder removal - open - Recovery

Alternative Names

Cholecystectomy - open

After the Procedure:

People usually stay in the hospital for 2 to 6 days after open gallbladder removal. During that time:

You will be asked to breathe into a medical device called an incentive spirometer. This helps keep your lungs working well so that you do not get pneumonia.
The nurse will help you sit up in bed, hang your legs over the side, and then stand up and start to walk.
At first you will receive fluids into your vein through an intravenous tube (IV). Soon, though, the doctors and nurses will ask you to start drinking liquids and then eat other foods.
You will be able to begin showering again while you are still in the hospital.
You may be asked to wear pressure stockings on your legs to help prevent a blood clot from forming. These help keep your blood circulating well.

If there were problems during your surgery, or if you have bleeding, a lot of pain, or a fever, you may need to stay in the hospital longer.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Most people do very well and recover quickly.

Cholecystitis, CT scan

Cholecystitis, cholangiogram

Cholecystolithiasis

Gallbladder

Gallbladder removal - series

Reviewed last on: 11/15/2008
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Robert J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., MD, FACS, Harry E. Stuckenhoff Professor of Surgery, Chief of General Surgery, and Associate Chairman, Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine (11/15/2008).

References

Chari RS, Shah SA. Biliary system. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008:chap 54.

Afdhal N. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 159.

Siddiqui T. Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Am J Surg. 2008;195(1):40-47.

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