Very often, the only way to cope with an exacerbation of gallstone disease and, as a result, with inflammation of the gallbladder is to conduct cholecystectomy, which is indicated in the case of an unsuccessful fight against the disease using ultrasound methods and all kinds of diets. Of course, in the postoperative period, patients may complain of pain after removal of the gallbladder, but, nevertheless, this procedure remains the main treatment for cholecystitis today (despite the modern development of all kinds of non-surgical methods of therapy).
However, many believe that if the bubble is removed, then all other problems are removed automatically. But this opinion is erroneous, since, most likely, they are just beginning. Indeed, in addition to the fact that the operated side has a pain in the right side after removal of the gallbladder, there is an aggravation of many “old” diseases, which until then had not been reminded of themselves.
Bladder resection methods
Cholecystectomy is performed in two surgical ways:
- Laparoscopic. 90% of all operations are performed using this particular method, which is characterized by a low invasiveness of surgical intervention and a low probability of further serious complications, as well as high efficiency. The operation is carried out using a highly specialized medical instrument called a laparoscope. Using a similar method, it is possible to perform a resection of calculi (i.e. stones) or the entire bladder without opening the abdominal cavity. Only a few miniature punctures are made in the peritoneum and remove what needs to be removed (stones or the entire diseased organ).
- Traditional (or open). This method is used if there are large stones or serious inflammatory processes in the cavity of the gallbladder. In this case, the surgeon performs an extensive autopsy of the peritoneum (incision about 15 centimeters); displaces tissues, muscles and liver; then removes the gallbladder; checks the duct through which bile flows into the small intestine for stones; then sutures the incision, leaving a small drainage hole (in case of infection or inflammation).
Important! Both operations are carried out only under general anesthesia. The duration of each of them is 2-3 hours.
The basic principle of laparoscopic surgery
The essence of the method is that in the abdominal cavity using a stylet (that is, a device resembling a thin dagger with a vertical hole), 4 small punctures are made into which hollow tubes with valves (the so-called trocars) are inserted. It is through them that a special surgical instrument is introduced to perform the necessary manipulations. In addition to them, the surgeon uses a laparoscope (it has two optical channels) connected to the monitor. That is, the specialist has the opportunity to keep the entire process under control. Cold light is supplied to the peritoneum through one channel, and a “picture” of what is going on inside is transmitted through the second channel (first to a television camera and then to a monitor). That's what technical progress means!
Important! The examination, which is carried out before the operation, is performed under local anesthesia, but the surgery itself is performed using general anesthesia (that is, the person being operated does not experience absolutely no pain) and a special-purpose apparatus that provides artificial ventilation of the lungs.
In order for the space necessary for visual inspection (of course, on the screen) and surgical procedures to form in the abdominal cavity, sterile gas is introduced into it (usually it is carbon monoxide). Then the surgeon cuts off adhesions around the gallbladder; pumps out excess fluid from it (if necessary); compresses the duct of the bladder and artery with clips; separates the diseased organ from the liver; displays it through a cosmetic puncture located in the navel? and sews (or seals) punctures on the fabric.
On a note! One of the punctures is not sutured. Leave a drainage tube in it for a day. This is done in order to completely remove the antiseptic fluid (it is with it that the peritoneum is washed at the last stage of the operation in order to avoid the development of the inflammatory process). If the pathology is simple (that is, without the ingress of bile into the peritoneum), drainage is not established.
After operation
After the above-described open-type measures, discharge is carried out approximately 7 days later, when severe pain will pass after removal of the gallbladder, and the operated person will be able to eat food painlessly, as well as move without assistance.
Even with a successful open surgery for a short time, the patient may experience such unpleasant manifestations as loose stools (for 7-8 weeks), vomiting, redness around the wound and hematoma, as well as sore throat (due to respiratory tube) and in the abdomen (i.e. at the incision site).
Important! After an open operation, which took place without any complications, the surgical sutures are removed on an outpatient basis approximately 1.5-2 weeks after the manipulations. Pain after surgery to remove the gallbladder in the incision can be felt for another 3-4 weeks, gradually decreasing. This is normal.
After resection of the gallbladder using a laparoscope, the patient is discharged after approximately 2-4 days. Of course, this happens if his health condition is satisfactory, the healing process of the scars goes well, and the patient has a good psychological attitude (by the way, this is extremely important). Already in the evening after cholecystectomy (and more precisely, after the action of anesthesia has ended), it is recommended to get up and start walking (of course, with the help of one of the relatives or neighbors in the ward).
Important! You need to stay in the hospital exactly as much time as your doctor requires. In order to avoid quite serious complications in the future, do not rush to write out.
By the way, with laparoscopy, surgical sutures are not removed, and the suture is almost invisible. To alleviate the condition of the patient, he is prescribed drugs of anesthetic group and non-narcotic analgesics.
What can be said about the postoperative diet:
- On the 1st day after cholecystectomy, food intake is contraindicated. You can drink, but not very much.
- On day 2, light food is allowed (only in moderation). It can be low-fat boiled meat, cottage cheese, fruits, yogurts, broth and more. You can and even need to drink without any restrictions.
- On the 3rd day, the diet can be close to normal, taking into account the wishes of the person operated on.
Advantages of surgery with a laparoscope
The advantages of this method include the following:
- During the operation, only 4 incisions are made (relatively small), which cause minimal injury to the tissues of the abdominal cavity.
- Pain after surgery to remove the gallbladder is observed exclusively in the first days after manipulation. And they are not very strong.
- The risk of injury to organs in close proximity to the bladder is minimized.
- After 4-5 hours after the operation, the patient is able to serve himself independently, as well as to move around without assistance.
- The formation of a small number of postoperative hernias, that is, the likelihood of serious postoperative complications, is minimal.
- The rehabilitation period is shortened, the person's working capacity is restored faster.
- The length of stay in a hospital is only 2-4 days.
- Quick scarring of punctures. After a couple of months they become almost invisible.
The nature of changes in the body after surgery
Why do pains after gallbladder removal concern patients? The fact is that after the operation, the human body must adapt to the new realities of its existence. Before surgery, the accumulation of bile occurred in the bladder strictly between meals. And its outflow into the digestive tract to participate in the digestion process took place after the meal. But that was before, but now what? After the bubble is removed, bile constantly flows into the intestine, while irritating its walls and causing some discomfort to the operated person.
Important! To quickly adapt the body to the new realities of life, medications, diet and exercise prescribed by your doctor will help.
Causes of Pain
There can be many causes of pain in the abdomen:
- As a result, chronic diseases worsened as a result of surgery or new ones have arisen.
- Partly, the pain in the side after removal of the gallbladder can be due to the fact that during the operation a sterile gas is introduced into the peritoneum, which disappears after a short time, and this discomfort passes without a trace.
- Inflammatory processes due to infection brought in by either a poorly sterilized instrument or with air.
Important! In order to quickly stop the infectious disease, body temperature should be constantly monitored. If it increases to 38 degrees or more, you can diagnose the onset of the inflammatory process.
- The presence of postoperative complications, for example, a significant decrease in the bile ducts or the formation of adhesions.
- Due to residual stones that entered the ducts before surgery and made themselves felt after the surgery was performed.
- Also, the causes of pain after removal of the gallbladder may be physical activity not approved by the doctor and a diet that differs from that recommended by a specialist.
On a note! If cholecystectomy was performed using a scalpel (that is, by an open method), then the pain syndrome can be caused by a relatively large (compared with laparoscopy) dissection of the tissues of the abdominal cavity.
What else can bother, in addition to pain in the side
If the patient complains that the right side hurts after removal of the gallbladder, what other manifestations may bother? Among them are the following:
- chills;
- gagging;
- nausea (especially in the morning);
- hyperthermia (i.e. fever);
- unpleasant bitterness in the mouth;
- the development of a disease such as jaundice;
- frequent and prolonged delays in bowel movements;
- interruptions in the functioning of the digestive tract;
- flatulence;
- weakness;
- itching of the skin;
- changes (for the worse) of the qualitative indicators of urine and blood that can be detected in a clinical study.
At the consultation with a doctor
For complaints that the side hurts after removal of the gallbladder, specialists usually prescribe the following studies:
- Collection of the patient’s history, that is, complete information about the disease from the words of the patient himself or people who know him well.
- Clinical analysis of urine and plasma.
- Ultrasound
- A blood test for the amount of bilirubin contained.
- Implementation of ERCP.
Therapy in the fight against the disease
The treatment of pain after removal of the gallbladder is carried out comprehensively, and it is mainly aimed at eliminating disorders in the functioning of the stomach, liver and the entire digestive tract. The following groups of drugs are prescribed from medications:
- Enzyme-containing. They help to improve the functioning of the digestive tract (for example, "Pancreatin" or "Festal"); facilitate the removal of bile, intestinal work, prevent the development of food fermentation (Mezim or Espumisan).
- Anesthetics. They are best administered intravenously. The tablet form is the worst option.
- Painkillers. In order to cope with pain after removing the gallbladder, medications such as Mebeverin, Ketanov, Drotaverin or Ketorol are suitable.
- Probiotics They contribute to the creation of a new and healthy microflora (Bifidumbacterin, Linex).
- Hepatoprotectors. For those who complain that after removing the gallbladder the right side hurts, such remedies as Ursosan or milk thistle extract are suitable, which are designed to protect, restore and maintain the liver in good condition.
- Antispasmodics. They are needed in order to cope with spasms in the bile ducts (for example, Buskopan or No-Shpa).
- Antipyretic (in case of high body temperature).
Important! Do not self-medicate for pain after removing the gallbladder. You can make matters worse for your health.
Sometimes it happens that drug therapy does not give the desired positive results. In this case, it is necessary to appoint a re-diagnosis and another operation.
In addition to taking medicines, the specialist prescribes a course of physiotherapy exercises and a diet.
Physical Exercises After Bubble Removal
In terms of physical activity, the operated person must strictly adhere to the following simple requirements:
- During the first 5-8 days after surgery, you need more rest. Any physical activity can significantly worsen your health. Therefore, do not rush to start living normally. Otherwise, do not complain that your sutures hurt after removing the gallbladder and other unpleasant phenomena are observed.
- After 14-17 days, you can already gradually expose the body to insignificant physical exertion, the control of which is carried out by a specialist in exercise therapy. You need to start with a half-hour walk (preferably in the fresh air).
Food
The quality and quantity of food plays a dominant role in the recovery process of all body functions of the operated person. Therefore, it is so important to strictly comply with all recommendations regarding nutrition:
- Cold food and liquids are contraindicated, as this can cause a stomach cramp, which is not good in this case.
- Spicy, smoked, fried and fatty foods should not be present in your diet. They are also contraindicated for you. However, as well as products such as sweets, wine, vinegar, lard, concentrated broths and all kinds of syrups. The use of any of them even in small quantities can provoke pain (after removing the gallbladder, a similar symptom should be treated very carefully).
- The most appropriate diet in this case is table number 5.
Important! During the day it is necessary to carry out about five to six meals of recommended food. Moreover, each of them should be small in volume, since a significant amount of food received in the stomach is poorly digested.
If you continue to eat improperly, then do not ask your doctor a question about why the side hurts after removing the gallbladder.
Is the threat of chronic disease intensification real
Of course, this is entirely possible. For about 12-18 months after cholecystectomy, “old” diseases may worsen. In addition, new ailments that you did not even suspect could be felt. What diseases can remind about yourself:
- duodenal ulcer;
- inflammation in the pancreas (i.e. pancreatitis);
- disorders in the functioning of the organs of the biliary system;
- hepatitis;
- cholelithiasis, which manifests itself in the presence of residual stones in the gall duct;
- duodenitis;
- adhesions in the biliary tract.
If a patient receives a complaint that his stomach hurts after removal of the gallbladder, the following factors can provoke this:
- Violation of the outflow of bile.
- Failures in the functioning of the digestive tract.
- A significant reduction in the quantitative indicators of beneficial intestinal microflora.
If the stomach hurts after removal of the gallbladder, and this is due precisely to cholecystectomy, then such clinical manifestations will be observed:
- enlargement of the bile duct;
- pain in the side and in the stomach;
- activation of liver enzymes.
As a rule, the pain rises in fits and lasts for thirty to forty minutes. Usually it begins immediately after a meal or exhausts a person at night. In addition to the above symptoms, the patient may experience nausea and vomiting.
Prevention of ailment
With laparoscopy, pain after removal of the gallbladder does not differ in strength and frequency. Despite this, you should adhere to certain rules that will help you quickly recover and maintain your body in normal:
- Strictly follow all the recommendations received from the doctor about taking medications.
- Eliminate such bad habits as drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking.
- Follow dietary guidelines.
- Visit a health facility regularly for examinations.
- Try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible or, in extreme cases, try to disengage from them in order to avoid nervous strain.
- Do not exhaust yourself with physical activity. They do not need you.
Important!If you find any unpleasant symptoms, immediately consult a doctor. Do not wait until the condition worsens to critical.