Rapid Gallstone Clinic - Patient Information

Patient Information

Detailed information on the operation

Your gall bladder is used as a reservoir to store bile. When you eat food that contains fat the gall bladder squeezes out the bile into the bowel to digest fat.

However your gall bladder contains stones which are causing symptoms. Removing the gall bladder prevents these symptoms. You can live quite happily without your gall bladder, the bile from your liver will simply trickle into your bowel instead of being stored in the gall bladder.

The Surgeon would aim to remove your gall bladder using key hole surgery which leads to a much quicker post operative recovery. This involves making 4 small incisions in your abdomen through which instruments are used to perform the surgery.

You may have a drain in your abdomen after your surgery; this is usually removed the day after your operation. In some patients an X-ray of the bile duct is taken during the operation to ensure no stones have escaped from the gall bladder.

In 5% (1 in 20) of cases it may prove difficult to remove the gall bladder using the key hole method; if this happens the traditional operation will be used which involves an incision approximately 4 inches long under the ribs on the right side of your abdomen through which the gall bladder can be removed.



Home About Us Patient Information Gallstones Appointments Other Gallstone Surgery Information	Patient Information Detailed information on the operation Benefits of gall bladder surgery Risks of gall bladder surgery What to expect after gallbladder surgery Woundcare following gallstone surgery Medication following a gallstone surgery Diet following gallstone surgery Detailed information on the operation Your gall bladder is used as a reservoir to store bile. When you eat food that contains fat the gall bladder squeezes out the bile into the bowel to digest fat. However your gall bladder contains stones which are causing symptoms. Removing the gall bladder prevents these symptoms. You can live quite happily without your gall bladder, the bile from your liver will simply trickle into your bowel instead of being stored in the gall bladder. The Surgeon would aim to remove your gall bladder using key hole surgery which leads to a much quicker post operative recovery. This involves making 4 small incisions in your abdomen through which instruments are used to perform the surgery. You may have a drain in your abdomen after your surgery; this is usually removed the day after your operation. In some patients an X-ray of the bile duct is taken during the operation to ensure no stones have escaped from the gall bladder. In 5% (1 in 20) of cases it may prove difficult to remove the gall bladder using the key hole method; if this happens the traditional operation will be used which involves an incision approximately 4 inches long under the ribs on the right side of your abdomen through which the gall bladder can be removed.