You have had your gallbladder removed via a laparoscopic surgery. Read about, how the surgery was performed and what you need to pay special attention to during your recovery.

If you have been given a personal surgery report, you should follow the instructions described there. Contact the department if you have any questions.

How was the surgery preformed?

During the surgery, air is blown into the abdominal cavity through a thin needle to create space for the procedure. Four small incisions is made where tubes are inserted through the abdomen, and with surgical instruments, the gallbladder is removed. The small duct from the gallbladder and its blood supply, is closed with clips. The four incisions are closed with self-dissolving stitches.

Can discomfort/complications occur?

• In about 1 % of the patients, bile may leak from the small duct of the gallbladder after surgery, which can cause stomach pain and possibly fever
• Around 2 % of the patients may develop a superficial infection at one of the surgical wounds
• In about 2 % of the cases, an infection may occur near the belly button
• In less than 0.5 % of the cases, there is a risk of injury to the deep bile ducts or intestines.

How to prevent infection

Avoid baths and swimming pools during the first week after surgery. Change the bandages if they are wet or soaked.

What to do with the bandages and sutures?

• After a minimum of 24 hours, you may shower and change the bandages
• The sutures will be removed by your doctor 8 - 10 days after the surgery. You need to book the appointment with your own doctor
• Self-dissolving stitches will disappear on their own after a few weeks.

Pain after the surgery?

The medication you have picked from the pharmacy is usually sufficient to manage the pain after surgery.

If you experience nausea, medication can be provided to help with that.

You may experience pain in the shoulder area. This is due to a specific pain reflex caused by the air that was inflated into the abdominal cavity during the surgery. It will fade away during the next few days.

It is important that you take the pain medication during the first 3 days after the surgery, to minimize any discomfort. You can stop taking the medication if you no longer feel any pain.

After the surgery

• An adult should stay with you during the first night
• You are not allowed to drive a vehicle during the first 24 hours
• Immediately after the surgery, you may eat and drink normal food. If you experience constipation, it is recommended to take HUSK or Magnesia and to drink plenty of fluids
• The day after surgery, you may resume to normal activities such as walking, cycling and household chores as well as sexual intercourse. High tensity sports should be limited by any pain
• You may return to work within the first week after surgery, if your pain level is tolerable. Most people are ready to go back to work after one week
• There is no identified risk in returning to hard physical work, as long as is does not cause pain
• There may be specific restrictions after open surgery
• Diving and travel by airplane are not recommended within one week after the surgery. The air blown into the abdominal cavity will not have fully disappeared at this time, which could cause issues due to changes in pressure onboard an airplane.

When should I take my medication?

We recommend that you take the prescribed medication at the following hours:

Other medication:

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Name of contact nurse:

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Remarks:

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What to do if you feel unwell?

You should seek medical assistance if:

• You get a fever above 38 degrees Cﹾ
• You experience increasing pain
• You experience heavy bleeding
• You experience swelling, redness or tenderness around the surgical site.

Contact within the first 24 hours

The Day surgery Department, Hvidovre Hospital
Telephone 38 62 10 41 (weekdays between 08:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m) 

Contact within the next days after the surgery

The Department of Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital
Telephone 38 62 22 37 (weekdays from 08:00 a.m to 15:00 p.m).

Hereafter and out of the opening hours contact your general practitioner or 1813.