Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy)
Postoperative Instructions

Caring for Your Incisions

Your skin incisions have been securely closed with absorbable sutures (which dissolve on their own) and a special surgical adhesive glue. You may notice the skin at the edge of the incision looks slightly red or raised, or you may develop a dark red or purple bruise around the site. This is completely normal and is simply due to minor oozing from tiny blood vessels under the skin. It will naturally fade over time.

Note on Bandages: Keeping the incisions covered with a bandage is only necessary if they are actively draining, in order to protect your clothing. A small amount of clear or pink/red-tinged drainage is normal. Use a small piece of gauze if needed. However, if the drainage develops a foul odor or becomes thick and yellow/white (purulent), please call our office.

Activity & Lifting Restrictions

While moving around might feel uncomfortable at first, it is actually the best way to work out the soreness in your abdominal muscles! Walking, light jogging, driving, and climbing stairs are highly encouraged as long as they do not cause you significant discomfort.

You may return to work as soon as you feel comfortable performing your job duties, provided you strictly follow the 30-pound lifting restriction. You do not need to wait until your first follow-up appointment to go back to work. If you need a formal work release note, please contact our office and we will fax it to you or your employer.

Managing "Gas Pain" & Shoulder Ache

During laparoscopic surgery, we use harmless, pressurized carbon dioxide gas to inflate your abdomen so we can see your organs clearly. The "gas pain" you feel afterward is not gas inside your bowel, but rather irritation from the gas trapped around your abdominal organs.

• Because the gas is outside your digestive tract, traditional over-the-counter remedies like Gas-X or Mylicon are usually not helpful. Walking, gentle movement, and time are the most effective ways to help your body absorb the gas and relieve the muscle soreness.
• Shoulder Pain: You may experience aching pain in one or both of your shoulders for a few days. This is "referred pain" from an irritated diaphragm (the muscle separating your chest and belly) caused by the surgical gas. This is very common and will slowly improve over several days.

Pain Control & Preventing Constipation

You have been given a prescription for a narcotic pain medication for immediate postoperative relief. Please take this only as needed when you are experiencing significant pain. Unless instructed otherwise, you should also utilize over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) to manage milder discomfort.

Crucial Step: Narcotic pain medications cause significant constipation. It is highly recommended that you use over-the-counter stool softeners while taking them. Good options include Colace, Senokot, Milk of Magnesia, or any other mild laxative. (Suppositories and enemas may also be used if necessary). We generally do not recommend harsh, strong laxatives like Miralax or GoLytely immediately after surgery.