If you have been diagnosed with gallbladder disease and you are recommended to undergo gallbladder surgery, you must get well-informed before moving forward with the treatment. Having a quick discussion with a qualified doctor and an experienced gallbladder surgeon will give you a clear picture of the procedure ahead, associated risks, recovery process, and outcomes.
To make your task easy, we’ve outlined a few questions that you must ask your doctor before going for surgery to make more informed decisions regarding your treatment. Before that, let’s know about the gallbladder and its functions in the body.
What is the Gallbladder and Its Role?
The gallbladder plays a vital role in the body in storing bile, which is a fluid that helps in the digestion of food. Located beneath the liver on the right side, this muscular organ concentrates and releases the bile into the digestive system.
Understanding the Dysfunction of the Gallbladder
Any malfunction of the gallbladder can disrupt the smooth digestion process. A common condition called biliary dyskinesia involves an underactive gallbladder that becomes incapable of contracting and releasing bile into the small intestine effectively. While it plays a vital role in breaking down dietary fats, any disruption in the flow of bile juice can make digestion difficult and uncomfortable.
What Causes Gallbladder Dysfunction?
There may be various reasons behind the malfunctioning of the gallbladder. Among all issues, gallstones are one of the most common problems found in the majority of gallbladder patients. It may restrict the smooth flow of bile juice and also disrupt the gallbladder wall.
There are also other reasons, such as inflammation, poor dietary habits, unhealthy lifestyles, etc. In a few cases, hormonal changes in women during their period of pregnancy or menopause can also disrupt gallbladder motility. A few significant factors that contribute to major risks for gallbladder dysfunction are obesity, rapid weight loss, a high-fat diet, and family history.
6 Questions to Ask Before Gallbladder Surgery
Here are six important questions to ask a gallbladder surgeon before proceeding with gallbladder removal surgery-
1. What are the different surgical treatments available for Gallbladder removal?
Before reaching any final decision regarding gallbladder removal surgery, you should ask your doctor about various surgical techniques available for gallbladder removal. Your doctor will suggest two main methods for gallbladder surgery that are considered most effective: laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually a preferred surgical method as it involves minimal invasion and includes small incisions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a surgical treatment that involves minimal invasion and includes small incisions only to minimize discomfort. By discussing with the doctor, you can learn about the pros and cons of each type of surgical treatment based on your medical history to make a more informed decision.
2. What are the possible risks and complications associated with Gallbladder surgery?
Like other forms of surgical treatments, gallbladder removal surgery also has a few risks. Before moving ahead with the surgery, you must understand all potential risks and complications related to the gallbladder surgery. You must ask your surgeon regarding potential risks associated with infection, bleeding, injury near the organ, injury at the bile duct, and other questions related to post-surgery.
3. What is the Gallbladder surgery recovery period?
This is one most crucial question that you must ask your surgeon. It is essential to know the estimated recovery period required after gallbladder surgery to plan your post-surgery care effectively and be back to your daily routine. You may also manage your expenses by how long you need to stay in the hospital. You can also ask about the dietary restrictions, pain management approaches, and follow-up appointments needed for precisely monitoring your healing process.
4. Are there any alternate treatments or non-surgical options required for Gallbladder diseases?
While discussing everything about gallbladder removal surgery with the doctor, it is worth asking about alternative treatments or non-surgical treatments available for gallbladder diseases. You should share about your existing health conditions, if any.
You may ask for medications or lifestyle changes that may help you manage the gallbladder symptoms easily without surgery, if possible. Your surgeon may assess your current medical condition and recommend substitutes for the surgery, if possible. In case of gallstones, surgery is the ultimate option.
5. What is your experience in Gallbladder surgery and the success rate of your previous surgeries?
The next important thing that you must ask your surgeon before going ahead with gallbladder surgery is his experience in performing gallbladder surgery successfully, the number of surgeries he has performed, and their success rate. You should choose only a skilled and experienced surgeon for your gallbladder removal surgery to get positive outcomes. You may ask for his credentials, additional training relating to the gallbladder, and specialization, etc. This will help to have better confidence before going for gallbladder surgery.
6. What dietary changes do I need to follow post-gallbladder removal surgery?
You must ask your doctor about necessary dietary changes post-gallbladder removal surgery for long-term health benefits. Mostly, he would suggest you take a low-fat diet, skip fried, sugary, and spicy foods, increase fiber intake, and keep watch on your bowel movements. In the absence of a gallbladder, your doctor would recommend that you be mindful while eating your regular meals and follow strict protocols for diet and exercise.
Conclusion
Asking your doctor the right questions before going for your gallbladder surgery will help you to make better decisions and give you the confidence to move ahead with the treatment. You can better manage your finances, potential risks, and plan post-surgery care effectively to get the best outcomes. To get a successful outcome for your gallbladder surgery and have a smoother recovery, effective communication with your doctor is the only solution.
At Habilite Clinics, led by Dr. Kapil Agrawal- the best surgeon for gallbladder stone in Delhi, you can get the best advice for your gallbladder removal surgery, and each of your queries resolved precisely.
With over 7,000 laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder surgeries successfully performed, he is the leading surgeon in Delhi NCR for gallbladder removal surgery with more than 22 years of surgical experience. With his associations with top-notch hospitals in Delhi, he is known to offer the best patient care with his dedicated team and augmented techniques.
