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Gallbladder removal - laparoscopic - Risks

Alternative Names

Cholecystectomy - laparoscopic

Risks:

The risks for any anesthesia include:

Reactions to drugs you are given
Breathing problems
Pneumonia
Heart problems
Blood clots in the legs or lungs

The risks for gallbladder surgery include:

Bleeding
Infection in your belly
Injury to the common bile duct
Injury to the small intestine
Pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas)

Reviewed last on: 11/5/2008
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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Chari RS, Shah SA. Biliary system. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St. Louis, M0: WB Saunders; 2008: chap 54.

Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of 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. Jan 2008; 195(1): 40-7.

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