Gallstone disease in recent years greatly "rejuvenated." One of the solutions to this problem, and perhaps the most common, is to remove the gallbladder. The consequences of removal for the body, we will consider in this article.
Hepatocytes (liver cells) produce bile, which accumulates in the gallbladder. From there, bile enters the duodenum 12, helping the digestion process after eating. This acid-containing secretion of hepatocytes also plays a bactericidal role and fights harmful microorganisms that accidentally enter the body.
Causes of stone formation
Gallstones can form for various reasons. But the main one is the violation of metabolic processes in the body. This may be due to overweight or obesity, especially if fatty degeneration of the liver develops. Taking a large number of drugs, including hormonal contraceptives, increases the risk of calculous (with the formation of stones) cholecystitis.
Eating disorders can also trigger this ailment. Such violations can be associated with the intake of foods high in cholesterol (fatty meat, kidneys, brains, butter, eggs), and the use of highly mineralized water for a long time and low-calorie diets.
Anatomical features of the structure of the gallbladder (kinks and bends) can also provoke calculous cholecystitis. This is dangerous due to possible complications, for example, blockage of the bile ducts. The removal of the gallbladder can solve the problem. The consequences of the removal, as a rule, are not dangerous, provided that the operation was performed on time by highly qualified specialists.
Indications for surgery
The main indications for removing the gallbladder are most often:
- danger of blockage of the bile ducts;
- inflammatory processes in the gallbladder;
- chronic cholecystitis, not amenable to conservative treatment.
In such cases, it is advisable to remove the gallbladder. The consequences of the removal cannot be predicted in advance. But in time, the operation carried out undesirable consequences to a minimum. Unfortunately, the operation itself does not eliminate the causes of impaired bile formation. And after cholecystectomy, it will take some more time for the body to adapt to work smoothly in the absence of this organ.
If the patient was constantly worried about exacerbations of chronic cholecystitis, then after surgery his condition will improve. The functions of the removed gallbladder will be taken over by nearby organs. But this will not happen immediately. It will take several months to rebuild the body.
Gallbladder removal: consequences of removal
Cholecystectomy can be performed by laparoscopic or abdominal methods. In cases where the patient has established the fact of a strong infection or the presence of large stones that cannot be removed otherwise, a cavity operation is performed - removal of the gallbladder. Laparoscopy in other uncomplicated cases is most relevant.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed under computer control. This is a less traumatic
operation. After the operation to remove the gallbladder, the patient is in the intensive care unit for the first 2 hours under the constant supervision of medical staff. After that, he is transferred to a regular ward. It is not permitted to drink or eat any food for the first 6 hours. Then you can give one patient a sip of water without gas.
From the hospital, the patient can already be allowed to go home on the 2nd-4th day. This is followed by a rehabilitation period. With uncomplicated cholecystectomy, the patient is on sick leave usually for a month.
What happens after cholecystectomy?
Bile after removal of the gallbladder enters the intestine constantly, it has nowhere to accumulate, and it becomes more fluid. This makes some changes to the bowel:
- Liquid bile copes with harmful microorganisms worse. They can multiply and cause indigestion.
- The absence of the gallbladder leads to the fact that bile acids constantly irritate the mucosa of the duodenum. This fact can cause inflammation and the development of duodenitis.
- This disrupts the motor activity of the intestine, and food masses can be thrown back into the stomach and esophagus.
- Such a process can entail the development of gastritis, esophagitis, colitis or enteritis.
Trying to avoid all these troubles will help a properly selected diet. Physical activity will also have to be reduced for a while. From the digestive system, all kinds of disturbances are possible. Possible intestinal upsets or, conversely, constipation, bloating. This should not be scared. These are temporary phenomena.
Diet after surgery
During the first days after the operation, you can only drink non-carbonated water in small sips, but with a volume of not more than half a liter. In the next 7 days, the patient's nutrition includes:
- low-fat boiled meat (beef, chicken breast without skin) in crushed form;
- soups on vegetable broth;
- oat or buckwheat porridge in the water;
- fresh sour-milk products (yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese);
- baked bananas and apples.
For the period of rehabilitation, the following products are prohibited:
- all fried foods;
- sharp and salty;
- fish (even boiled);
- strong tea or coffee;
- any alcohol;
- chocolate;
- sweets;
- bakery products.
Further nutrition
Further, during the first two months after the operation, it is necessary to adhere to a sparing diet. It is more commonly known as diet No. 5. It is allowed to use the following products in powdered or mashed form:
- lean meat boiled or steamed;
- white sea fish;
- boiled egg (can be an omelet cooked in the oven);
- stewed or boiled vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes);
- fruits, berries and mashed potatoes from them, baked apples;
- freshly squeezed juices diluted with water;
- rosehip broth;
- weak tea;
- rye crackers.
Products that increase gas production (peas, white and red cabbage, etc.) should be excluded. After 2-3 months, you can add to the diet:
- dishes from cereals (rice, barley, millet, etc.);
- cottage cheese, hard cheese (mild);
- honey, jam (not more than 30 grams per day);
- citrus;
- only yesterday’s pastries (fresh pastry is still banned).
In the next two years, completely eliminate chocolate, ice cream, cakes, fresh buns. Eating in small portions 5-6 times a day.
Any drinks containing alcohol (even in small quantities) remain banned. This can trigger an attack of acute pancreatitis.
Medication after surgery
After removal of the gallbladder, drug treatment requires a minimum. If inflammatory processes are detected in the gallbladder after surgery, antibiotics are prescribed. Antibacterial therapy is carried out in a hospital for the first three days. This is done to prevent the development of postoperative complications.
If the patient complains of pain, analgesics may be prescribed. They are used only the first 2-3 days. Then you can switch to antispasmodics "Drotaverin", "No-shpa", "Buskopan". These drugs are usually taken in tablet form for no more than 10 days.
After removal of the gallbladder, treatment at home can be continued. To improve the lithogenicity of bile, drugs containing ursodeoxycholic acid are used, which reduces possible microcholelithiasis (the formation of microscopic stones up to 0.1 cm in size). This may be the drug "Ursofalk." It is used in the form of a suspension or capsules. Reception of this drug is long - from 6 months to two years.
Unfortunately, cholecystectomy does not fully guarantee the prevention of further stone formation, since bile production with increased lithogenicity (the ability to form stones) does not stop.
Gallbladder removal: surgery cost
This operation can be carried out both for free and for a fee. They operate on a medical policy at state medical institutions for free. Free operation is carried out by highly qualified specialists. This is usually a scheduled operation. In an emergency, it is carried out only if the patient's condition has deteriorated sharply and there is a threat of serious complications or a danger to life.
Paid medical centers and clinics can perform cholecystectomy for a certain price. In different clinics, prices for such an operation can range from 18 thousand rubles to 100. It all depends on the regional location of the clinic and its prestige. Also, the cost of the operation in such centers is affected by the fact who will carry out the operation - it will be an ordinary surgeon or a doctor of medical sciences.