Is Gallbladder Surgery Risky? Senior Surgical Care with Dr Rengan in Chennai

Introduction

Being told you may need gallbladder surgery can bring up a lot of questions. Will it hurt? How long will you be in hospital? Can you eat normally afterwards?

If you are exploring gallbladder surgery in Chennai, understanding the procedure can make your consultation more useful and the next steps less worrying. This guide explains what to expect and what to discuss with Dr (Major) R S Rengan.

If you are considering gallbladder surgery in Chennai, this guide will help you prepare for that conversation with Dr (Major) R. S. Rengan at Dr Rengan’s Surgical Centre, West Mambalam.

No. Gallstones found incidentally, without symptoms, often do not need treatment. Surgery may be advised when stones cause pain or complications. Ultrasound and blood tests commonly help guide the assessment.

Gallstone pain can occur in the upper middle abdomen or beneath the right ribs. It may be severe, last more than 30 minutes and cause nausea or vomiting. Seek urgent medical assessment for prolonged abdominal pain. Sudden severe pain, fever or shivering, jaundice, or pain spreading to the back with vomiting warrant emergency assessment. In Chennai, go to the nearest emergency department rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
[NHS: Gallstones]

Gallbladder removal is called cholecystectomy. Most patients have keyhole surgery, known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

You receive a general anaesthetic, so you are asleep during the operation. The surgeon makes small cuts in the abdomen, introduces gas to create working space, and uses a camera and fine instruments to remove the gallbladder. The gas is released and the wounds are closed. You then move to recovery, where the team monitors you as you wake up and provides pain relief.

The operation often takes about an hour, although the time varies. Occasionally, significant inflammation or difficulty proceeding safely means a larger incision is needed. This is called open surgery and usually involves a longer recovery. [NHS: How gallbladder removal is done]

Removing the gallbladder is the usual surgical treatment for symptomatic gallstones. Medicines to dissolve stones are reserved for selected situations, can take months or years, and stones may return.

You can live normally without a gallbladder. After removal, bile from the liver flows directly into the small intestine instead of being stored in the gallbladder. Some people notice temporarily softer or more frequent stools. Discuss persistent changes with your doctor. [NIDDK: Treatment for gallstones]

Stones in the main bile duct may also need a procedure called ERCP to clear the duct. Your treatment plan depends on where the stones are and whether they have caused complications. [NHS: Gallstones]

Bring your scan reports, blood test results and current medicine list to your consultation. Useful questions include:

1. 1. Are my symptoms likely to be caused by the gallstones?
   2. Do I need surgery now, or are there reasonable alternatives?
   3. Is there evidence of a stone in the bile duct?
   4. What could change the planned operation or hospital stay?
   5. When can I return to my work, commute and usual activities?
   6. Whom should I contact if I develop a problem at home?

Follow your hospital’s exact fasting instructions before the operation. Ask the treating team for specific instructions about your regular medicines. [NHS: How gallbladder removal is done]

Many patients go home the same day; others stay overnight. Discharge depends on the team’s assessment. Arrange for someone to take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours.

Take prescribed pain relief, follow wound-care instructions and start with gentle activity. Build up gradually. Many people can return to work within one to two weeks, but physical jobs and open surgery may require longer. Drive only when you can perform an emergency stop comfortably and meet your care team’s advice and insurance requirements. [NHS: Recovery]

For patients travelling across Chennai or returning to another town, discuss the journey and follow-up arrangements before discharge. Ask for written instructions that you and your family can refer to at home.

Most people can eat a normal, balanced diet. Smaller meals may feel easier for the first few days. You do not routinely need a lifelong special diet after gallbladder removal. [NHS: Recovery]

If nausea, diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort persists, contact your treating team rather than repeatedly restricting your food without advice. [NHS: Complications]

Gallbladder removal is a common operation, but complications can occur. These include wound infection, blood clots, bile leakage, injury to the bile ducts or nearby organs, and retained stones. Your surgeon should explain your individual risks.

After surgery, seek urgent medical help for worsening or severe pain, fever, jaundice, pus from a wound, increasing wound redness or swelling, or a painful swollen leg. Chest pain or breathing difficulty needs emergency assessment. [NHS: Complications of gallbladder removal]

When comparing treatment options, ask for a written estimate covering the surgeon, anaesthetist, operating theatre, room, investigations, medicines and follow-up. Clarify what is excluded and what your insurer requires before admission. A useful estimate should relate to your proposed treatment and hospital stay.

Dr (Major) R S Rengan is the Chief Surgeon at Dr Rengan’s Surgical Centre, with a practice covering GI and laparoscopic surgery. The centre offers gallbladder surgery services in Chennai. [Dr Rengan’s Surgical Centre]

To discuss your symptoms, reports and treatment options, book a consultation with Dr (Major) R S Rengan in West Mambalam, Chennai.