Open Cholecystectomy
Pre-Operative preparation:
As for general anaesthesia. In addition it is usual to check some blood tests including checking your blood group. In patients with any suggestion of jaundice further investigations to determine if gall stones are within the common bile duct may be required
Procedure:
The majority of cholecystectomies are performed laparoscopically. But on occasion patients require open cholecystectomy either because of scarring from previous operations or because the gallbladder is very inflamed. As with laparoscopic cholecystectomy an operative cholangiogram to visualise the bile ducts may be required.
The abdominal incision is either a midline incision or a transverse incision below the right lower ribs. This will depend upon the body shape of the patient and any previous scars.
Anaesthesia:
General
Post Operative Care:
Patients can start eating after recovery from anaesthesia. Patients are generally mobile within the first 24 hours but there is more restriction after an open operation than a laparoscopic procedure, it is likely that patients will require strong analgesics for 48hrs and hospital stay is usually 3-5days. Full return to daily activities will not be possible until 6-8weeks.
OPC Codes:
J1800 Open Cholecystectomy
J1820 Open Cholecystectomy with operative cholangiogram
