Quick actions
Your Gallbladder
Guide
Clear information to help you understand your gallbladder problem, prepare for your consultation and know what to expect.
Your individual diagnosis, treatment options and decisions about surgery will be discussed with Peter or Tom.
A quick welcome
Peter and Tom explain how this guide can help you understand your gallbladder problem, prepare for your appointment and make the most of your consultation. You can also share it with a family member or support person so they can read along and help you think of questions.
Who are you seeing?
Select your surgeon so you can quickly find the information most relevant to your appointment. As you read, save any questions you would like to discuss. Your support person can help you think of questions too.
Your gallbladder journey
Select a section to go straight there. You can move through the guide in order or return to any section when you need it.
You do not need to read everything before your appointment. Focus on the sections that are most useful to you and save any questions you want to discuss with your surgeon .
Understanding your gallbladder problem
Gallstones are common, but simply finding stones on a scan does not necessarily mean they are causing your symptoms.
It is whether your symptoms actually fit with gallbladder disease and whether treating the gallbladder is likely to help you.
What does the gallbladder do?
The gallbladder is a small pouch beneath the liver. It stores bile, a digestive fluid made by the liver, and releases it into the intestine when you eat.
Gallstones are solid deposits that form inside the gallbladder. They may be very small or several centimetres in size.
Many people have gallstones without ever knowing they are there. These stones may cause no symptoms at all.
What do gallstone symptoms usually feel like?
When gallstones do cause symptoms, the typical pattern is called biliary colic.
Could something else be causing the pain?
Yes. Upper abdominal symptoms can have several causes, including reflux, inflammation or ulceration of the stomach, irritable bowel symptoms, liver or pancreatic conditions, and musculoskeletal pain.
This is why finding gallstones on an ultrasound does not automatically prove that the gallbladder is responsible.
At your consultation, your surgeon will look at the pattern of your symptoms alongside your scan and other investigations before discussing whether your gallbladder is the likely cause.
When symptoms may be more serious
Most gallstone attacks settle, but you should seek urgent medical assessment if you develop:
- Severe abdominal pain that does not settle
- Fever or chills
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Persistent vomiting
- Increasing abdominal tenderness
- Feeling significantly unwell
Other gallbladder findings
Symptoms but no gallstones seen? Read about biliary dyskinesia
Some people experience symptoms that sound very similar to biliary colic even though no gallstones are visible on ultrasound. One possible explanation is biliary dyskinesia, where the gallbladder may not empty normally.
The diagnosis is less straightforward than ordinary gallstone disease. Symptoms, previous tests and sometimes a specialised HIDA scan may all contribute to the assessment.
No single test proves that the gallbladder is the cause of symptoms, so careful assessment and discussion of the uncertainty are particularly important.
Has your scan shown a gallbladder polyp? Learn why some polyps are monitored
Gallbladder polyps are sometimes found unexpectedly during an ultrasound performed for another reason.
A polyp does not automatically mean that surgery is needed. The significance depends on factors such as its size, appearance, whether it changes over time and your individual circumstances.
Your scan can be reviewed with your surgeon to decide whether observation, further imaging or treatment is appropriate.
Save a question for your appointment
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Do I need surgery?
Having gallstones does not automatically mean you need an operation. For some people observation is reasonable. For others, surgery offers the best long-term solution.
The decision is based on your symptoms, how much they affect your life, your overall health and what matters most to you.
Do gallstones go away on their own?
Usually not. Once gallstones have formed, they generally remain in the gallbladder unless the gallbladder is removed.
Symptoms can settle or disappear for long periods, but this does not necessarily mean the stones themselves have gone.
There may be more than one reasonable option
If your symptoms are uncomplicated, the choice is not always immediately between “right” and “wrong”. Observation and surgery can both be reasonable in different circumstances.
Observation
This may be reasonable if symptoms have been mild, infrequent or uncertain, particularly if you would prefer to avoid or defer surgery.
Gallbladder surgery
Surgery may make more sense if attacks are recurrent, severe, affecting your quality of life, or if you prefer a definitive treatment.
What if I have only had one attack?
There is no universal answer. Some people have one episode of biliary colic and never experience another. Others develop further attacks within weeks or months.
Can changing my diet help?
It can help with symptoms for some people, particularly if certain foods appear to trigger attacks.
What can surgery offer?
Removing the gallbladder is the most definitive treatment when gallstones are genuinely causing symptoms.
Your surgeon will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of observation and surgery with you. The aim is not to persuade you towards an operation. It is to help you make a decision that fits your circumstances.
What matters most?
Save a question for your appointment
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
If surgery is right for me
If you decide to have surgery, the usual operation is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, meaning removal of the gallbladder using keyhole surgery.
Removing only the stones would leave the gallbladder behind and allow further stones to form. The standard treatment is therefore removal of the whole gallbladder.
What happens during the operation?
The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic, so you are asleep throughout.
Small cuts are made in the abdomen and a camera is inserted so the gallbladder and surrounding structures can be seen clearly.
Several small incisions are made in the abdomen.
The structures connecting the gallbladder to the bile duct and blood supply are identified and divided.
It is separated from the liver and removed through one of the small incisions.
The small incisions are closed and covered with dressings.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
Yes. The gallbladder stores bile, but it is not an essential organ. Your liver continues to make bile after the gallbladder has been removed.
Instead of being stored in the gallbladder, bile flows directly from the liver into the intestine.
How long does the operation take?
The operation itself commonly takes around an hour, although the exact time varies depending on the anatomy and how straightforward the operation is.
You will also spend time before surgery with the anaesthetic and theatre team, and afterwards in the recovery area while you wake from the anaesthetic.
Will I go home the same day?
Many patients can go home on the day of surgery once they are comfortable, able to drink, able to mobilise safely and have someone available to take them home.
Occasionally an overnight stay is recommended, particularly if recovery is slower than expected or there are medical or surgical reasons to remain in hospital.
Is it always possible to use keyhole surgery?
Most gallbladder operations are completed laparoscopically. Occasionally it is safer to make a larger incision and complete the operation as open surgery.
This is uncommon, but it is an important possibility to understand before the operation.
If surgery is the right option for you, your surgeon will talk you through the planned operation and any factors that may make your individual procedure different from the usual pathway.
What happens to the gallbladder?
The removed gallbladder is routinely sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
The pathology result will be discussed with you at follow-up.
Save a question for your appointment
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Understanding the risks
Gallbladder surgery is common and usually straightforward, but every operation carries some risk. Understanding the important possibilities helps you make an informed decision.
The important point is to understand both the more common minor problems and the rarer complications that may require further treatment.
More common problems
These are usually temporary or straightforward to manage.
Some abdominal and wound discomfort is expected for the first few days and is usually controlled with pain relief.
Mild bruising around the wounds is common and usually settles as you recover.
Some people feel nauseated after the anaesthetic, although medication can usually control this.
Some people notice loose bowel motions or changes in digestion for a short time after surgery.
Wound infection or bleeding
Infection can develop in one of the small wounds, and bleeding can occasionally occur during or after surgery.
Most wound infections can be treated simply, but significant bleeding may occasionally require further treatment or another procedure.
Bile leak
After the gallbladder is removed, bile can occasionally leak from one of the small ducts or from the area where the gallbladder was attached.
A bile leak may require additional imaging, drainage or an endoscopic procedure to help the leak settle.
Injury to the main bile duct
The main bile duct carries bile from the liver to the intestine. Injury to this duct is uncommon, but it is one of the most important complications of gallbladder surgery.
If a bile duct injury occurs, further procedures or specialist surgery may be required.
Injury to nearby structures
Nearby organs such as the bowel or blood vessels can very rarely be injured during keyhole surgery.
This may require additional treatment or conversion to an open operation.
Stones in the main bile duct
Sometimes a gallstone has already moved out of the gallbladder and into the main bile duct.
If this is suspected before or after surgery, you may need additional imaging or an endoscopic procedure to remove the stone.
How common are these risks?
These figures are estimates from large groups of patients. They help put the risks into perspective, but they cannot predict exactly what will happen to an individual person.
Major bile duct injury
About 1 in every 500 people undergoing keyhole gallbladder surgery may experience a significant injury to the main bile duct.
This is uncommon, but important because further procedures or specialist surgery may be required.Bile leak
About 5 in every 1,000 people develop a recognised bile leak after gallbladder surgery.
Some settle with drainage, while others require an endoscopic procedure such as ERCP.Wound infection
About 1 to 2 in every 100 people develop a wound infection after keyhole gallbladder surgery.
Most wound infections are minor and can be treated without another operation.Retained bile duct stone
About 2 in every 100 people may later be found to have a clinically significant stone remaining in the main bile duct.
If this occurs, the stone can usually be treated with an endoscopic procedure.Needing open surgery
In straightforward elective surgery, about 2 in every 100 operations may need to be completed through a larger incision.
The chance is higher when there is significant inflammation, scarring, difficult anatomy or other complexity.Changing to open surgery is not necessarily a complication. Sometimes using a larger incision is the safest way to complete the operation when the anatomy is difficult or unexpected problems are found.
If we say 2 in 100, imagine 100 people having a similar operation. Around 2 might experience that outcome and around 98 would not.
For a risk of 1 in 500, imagine 500 similar people having the operation. Around 1 might experience that complication and around 499 would not.
Published studies report slightly different figures because patients and operations are not all the same. Your own risk may be higher or lower depending on your health, previous surgery, the condition of your gallbladder and how straightforward or complex the operation is expected to be.
“Are any of these risks higher or lower for me?”
General surgical and anaesthetic risks
As with other operations under general anaesthetic, there are small risks related to the anaesthetic itself, blood clots in the legs or lungs, chest complications, heart problems or reactions to medication.
Your individual risk depends partly on your age, general health, medications and other medical conditions.
Your surgeon will discuss the risks that are most relevant to you and whether anything in your scans, previous operations or medical history changes the usual risk profile.
The decision is a balance
The question is not whether surgery has zero risk. No operation does. The decision is whether the likely benefits of surgery outweigh the risks in your individual situation.
Save a question for your appointment
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Getting ready and the day of surgery
A little preparation makes the day easier. Here are the main things to organise before your operation and what to expect when you arrive.
Your fasting time, medication instructions and arrival time are based on your individual booking. If those instructions differ from the general information below, follow the instructions you have been given.
Your preparation checklist
Fasting before surgery
Having an empty stomach reduces the risk of food or fluid entering your lungs while you are under a general anaesthetic.
Stop eating food.
Stop clear fluids.
What about my medicines?
Some medicines can be taken normally, while others may need to be temporarily stopped or adjusted before an operation.
Your medication instructions will be provided as part of your pre-operative information and may also be discussed with you by the anaesthetist.
Do not stop prescription medicines simply because you are having surgery unless you have been specifically advised to do so.
The day before your operation
The facility where your operation is being performed will usually contact you before surgery to confirm practical details such as your arrival time.
Keep your phone available and check any email or written information you have received about your booking.
Where will my operation be?
Most Compass gallbladder operations are performed at MacMurray Centre. Some operations may instead be arranged at Ormiston Hospital. Your booking information will confirm your hospital.
What should I bring?
What happens when I arrive?
The hospital team will confirm your details and prepare you for surgery.
The anaesthetist will review your health, medicines and the plan for your general anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will see you before the operation, answer any remaining questions and confirm the planned procedure.
You will be taken to theatre and the operation will be performed under general anaesthetic.
Afterwards you will wake in the recovery area where nurses will monitor you and make sure you are comfortable.
You will need someone to take you home
You should not drive yourself after a general anaesthetic. Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and be available with you during the first evening after your operation.
Save a question for your operation
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Recovery at home
Most people recover steadily over the first few days. Knowing what is normal and what should prompt a call can make recovery feel much more straightforward.
Some discomfort and tiredness are expected at first. The overall direction should be towards feeling a little better each day.
Pain and discomfort
It is normal to have some soreness around the small wounds and discomfort inside the abdomen after surgery.
Some people also notice pain near the shoulder. This is caused by the gas used during keyhole surgery and usually settles quickly.
Looking after your wounds
You will usually have several small dressings over the keyhole incisions. Follow the wound-care instructions given to you before leaving hospital.
Mild bruising, tenderness and a small amount of swelling around the wounds can be normal.
Eating after surgery
You can usually return to eating normally as your appetite returns. Some people prefer smaller, lighter meals for the first day or two.
There is usually no need for a special long-term diet after the gallbladder has been removed.
Activity and exercise
Gentle walking is encouraged from the beginning. Increase your activity gradually according to how you feel.
Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise until the wounds are comfortable and you have had enough time to recover.
Short, regular walks are useful and help reduce stiffness.
Increase activity as comfort and energy improve.
Return gradually once you are comfortable and moving freely.
When can I drive?
Do not drive while you are affected by the anaesthetic, sedating pain medication or significant discomfort.
Before returning to driving, you should be able to sit comfortably, turn normally and perform an emergency stop without hesitation or pain.
When can I return to work?
This depends on the type of work you do and how quickly you recover. People with desk-based work may return sooner than those whose work involves lifting or physical activity.
Your surgeon can give you more specific guidance based on your work and operation.
What can be normal in the first few days?
When should I contact the hospital?
Contact the hospital where your operation was performed if you develop:
- Increasing or severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
- Fever, chills or feeling increasingly unwell
- Increasing redness, swelling or discharge from a wound
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Significant abdominal swelling
- Shortness of breath, chest pain or other concerning new symptoms
If your recovery does not seem to be progressing as expected, an earlier review can be arranged rather than waiting for your routine follow-up with your surgeon .
Save a question for your recovery
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Follow-up and pathology
Your follow-up appointment is an opportunity to check your recovery, discuss the laboratory result from your gallbladder and answer any remaining questions.
It allows us to confirm that your recovery is progressing well and to discuss the pathology result from the gallbladder that was removed.
When will I be seen again?
A routine follow-up appointment is usually arranged at around six weeks after surgery.
If you are having problems before then, you do not need to wait for the scheduled appointment. An earlier review can be arranged.
What happens at follow-up?
We will check how your pain, energy, appetite and activity have progressed.
Any concerns about wound healing, swelling or discomfort can be reviewed.
The laboratory report from your gallbladder will be explained.
If you still have abdominal symptoms, we can discuss whether they are likely to be part of normal recovery or whether something else should be considered.
This is a good time to review anything you saved in My questions.
Why is the gallbladder sent to the laboratory?
After removal, the gallbladder is examined under a microscope. This is called histology or pathology.
The report confirms what was found in the gallbladder and checks for any unexpected abnormalities.
What if I still have symptoms?
Most patients improve after surgery when their symptoms were genuinely caused by the gallbladder.
If some symptoms continue, that does not automatically mean something has gone wrong. It may be that the original symptoms had more than one cause, or that another condition needs to be considered.
If you still have symptoms, your surgeon can review the pattern with you and decide whether any further investigation is useful.
Earlier review can be arranged
If you are worried about your recovery or something does not seem right, contact Compass or the hospital rather than waiting for your routine appointment.
Save a question for your follow-up
Tap a question and it will be added to your My questions list.
Was this section helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve this guide.
You’re ready for the next step
You can return to any section at any time and your saved questions will remain on this device.