Cholecystectomy in Barranquilla, Colombia

What is a cholecystectomy?

It is surgery to remove the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that stores bile. It is almost always done laparoscopically through three or four small incisions.

When is it needed?

Mainly when gallstones cause symptoms: pain in the upper right abdomen or upper stomach after eating, sometimes spreading to the back, with nausea. Also for gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), stones that pass into the bile ducts, gallstone pancreatitis or gallbladder polyps above a certain size.

When is it an emergency?

If pain lasts several hours without easing, or there is fever, chills, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools. These may indicate infection or bile duct blockage.

What is life without a gallbladder like?

You can live normally, because the liver keeps producing bile. Recovery from laparoscopic surgery usually takes one to two weeks. Some people notice softer stools after very fatty meals for a while, which usually improves with diet adjustments.

Find cholecystectomy specialists

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