When Is Gallbladder Surgery Necessary and Can It Wait?
It’s never a good feeling when something in your body goes wrong. When it comes to the gallbladder, there are a lot of problems that can arise with such a small organ. While some of these issues can be treated with medicine and noninvasive therapies, others may require a surgical procedure. When is gallbladder surgery necessary and how do you decide to move forward? Look at some of the factors to consider.
When Is Gallbladder Surgery Necessary: Understanding the Procedure
To understand whether gallbladder surgery is right for you, it’s important to know more about the procedure. Gallbladder surgery, also known as cholecystectomy, is a common surgical procedure that involves the removal of the gallbladder.
There are two main types of gallbladder surgery: open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Open cholecystectomy involves making a large incision in the abdomen to access the gallbladder, while laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves making several small incisions and using a tiny camera and specialized tools to remove the gallbladder.
A laparoscopic procedure can offer a much faster recovery time than traditional surgery, making it easier to get the care you need. However, not every case is a good candidate for laparoscopic surgery. Your doctor at Arizona Premier Surgery can help you understand what’s best for you.
When Is Gallbladder Surgery Necessary: Medical Concerns
The gallbladder helps with digestion by producing and releasing bile when needed, but the organ itself is not entirely needed. The body can still break down food and absorb nutrients without the gallbladder. That means if this organ experiences issues, it can often make more sense to remove it, especially when it affects your quality of life.
Sometimes the gallbladder can become inflamed or develop gallstones, which are hard, pebble-like deposits that can cause pain and other complications. In these cases, gallbladder surgery may be necessary. Any of the following conditions may lead to a recommendation for removal:
- Gallstones: Gallstones are the most common reason for gallbladder surgery. When you have gallstones that are causing pain, inflammation or infection, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder and prevent further complications.
- Gallbladder cancer: Although rare, gallbladder cancer can develop in some people. If the gallbladder develops cancer, your doctor will likely recommend taking out the organ to remove the cancerous tissue and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
- Biliary dyskinesia: This condition occurs when the gallbladder doesn’t contract properly, leading to symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting. Some people develop biliary dyskinesia that does not respond to other treatments, in which case your doctor may recommend gallbladder surgery.
- Pancreatitis: In some cases, gallstones can block the pancreatic duct, leading to pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. If you have recurrent episodes of pancreatitis due to gallstones, you may want to discuss with your doctor when is gallbladder surgery necessary.
- Cholecystitis: Cholecystitis is a condition that occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed and infected. Surgery is often used to get rid of the infected tissue and prevent further issues.
As you deal with any of these conditions, it’s important to keep track of your symptoms. The frequency and intensity of the problems can help you and your doctor determine if surgery is your best option or if you can try other remedies.
How Long Can You Put off Gallbladder Surgery?
If you have been diagnosed with a gallbladder condition, you may be wondering how long you can put off surgery. The answer depends on the specific condition you have and how severe your symptoms are.
Consider Your Condition
In general, if you have gallstones but no symptoms, you may be able to delay surgery. However, if you have recurrent gallstone attacks or complications such as inflammation, infection or pancreatitis, you may need surgery sooner rather than later.
Gallbladder cancer is another condition that will require immediate action. Surgery is often the best way to prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Gallbladder removal is usually necessary as soon as possible after a diagnosis. As well, when you get a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, you may need surgery as soon as possible to remove the infected gallbladder and prevent further complications.
With biliary dyskinesia, your doctor may try other treatments first, such as medication or dietary changes, before recommending surgery. However, if your symptoms are severe or not responding to other treatments, surgery may be the best option.
Consequences of Waiting too Long
As you consider “When is gallbladder surgery necessary”, it’s important to remember that delaying the procedure for too long can cause other problems:
- Increased pain: If you have gallstones or acute cholecystitis, delaying surgery can result in more frequent and severe pain. This pain can be debilitating and impact your quality of life.
- Infection: Waiting to get surgery can increase the risk of infection when you have acute cholecystitis. If the infection spreads, this can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Pancreatitis: Don’t wait when you have gallstones that are blocking the pancreatic duct. Delaying surgery can increase the risk of developing pancreatitis, which can be extremely painful and may require hospitalization.
- Gallbladder perforation: Acute cholecystitis can increase the risk of the gallbladder becoming inflamed and perforating (rupturing). This can lead to serious complications, such as peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) and sepsis, especially when you continue to wait to get surgery.
- Biliary cirrhosis: If you have biliary dyskinesia and delay surgery, it can lead to long-term inflammation and damage to the bile ducts, which can eventually lead to biliary cirrhosis. That can cause liver damage and other complications.
Although surgery can be intimidating, it is a much better choice rather than allowing your illness to get worse and cause more problems.
Find Out When Is Gallbladder Surgery Necessary for You
Taking care of your body can be tough, and gallbladder problems only make it harder. If you have problems with your gallbladder and wonder when is gallbladder surgery necessary, it’s time to set up an appointment with Arizona Premier Surgery to see what your options are.
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Sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallbladder-removal/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholecystectomy/about/pac-20384818