Common Conditions

Gallstones: Overview

You have gallstones and have been advised to have your gallbladder removed. This is an information sheet which advises you of the pros and cons of having this operation and answers to common worries that patients have. It is not intended to replace a consultation nor is it intended to be a textbook of surgery.

The risks of not removing your gallbladder include continuing discomfort, inflammation of the gallbladder, jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas, cholangitis and empyema. The latter three complications are serious and can result in peritonitis and death. Very occasionally, I advise patients that they should not have their gallbladder removed. This is usually because of extreme frailty associated with minimal symptoms.

Most gallbladder problems have to be dealt with surgically under general anaesthetic. These days the operation is usually undertaken using the keyhole method and will require one or two nights in hospital. In some cases (less than 5%), the operation is started using the keyhole method but then for technical reasons requires to be converted to the traditional ‘open’ method. This is usually the case if the surgeon considers it unsafe to proceed with the keyhole method. The open technique involves a larger scar and a 4 or 5 night hospital stay. In addition the recovery period is longer.

Most operations are undertaken without complications. Less than one in 20 of patients suffer any complications from this operation. The common complications associated with this operation are wound infection and blood or fluid collecting at the gallbladder site. These are relatively minor complications which are usually dealt with by a course of antibiotics or drainage through the skin. Sometimes it may be necessary to undertake an additional procedure to help the drainage of bile. On rare occasions more serious complications (e.g. bleeding) may occur.

On balance, the risks of not treating you outweigh the risks of surgery and I have recommended you to have your gallbladder removed. Closer to the date of your operation, you will receive an appointment for a pre-operative visit to the hospital. You will receive further details of the operation and pre-operative preparations then, and will have the opportunity to ask any questions. However, if you have any worries that cannot wait until then, please make an appointment for my Out-patient Clinic at the hospital.