Myths and Facts
Busting the common myths about gall bladder removal surgery
Myth 1. I will not be able to digest food:
This is the biggest concern expressed by patients. Gall bladder is the seat of stone formation and the bile is produced in the liver. It tis the bile produced by the liver which is needed for digestion of food and not the gall bladder. The bile formed by the liver directly reaches the intestines through the bile duct in the absence of the gall bladder and our digestion is in no way affected by the removal of the gall bladder.
Myth 2: I will have diarrhoea/ loose motions after removal of Gall bladder?
No, removal of gall bladder does not cause loose motions.
Myth 3: Isn’t gall bladder important for survival? Why remove it?
Gall bladder is not an important organ for survival. It just stores and concentrates bile. The gall bladder is the seat for formation of stones, stones are not formed in the liver or bile duct. Once the gall bladder is diseased and is forming stones and you are developing symptoms or complications, then keeping it or delaying the definitive treatment (which is removal of the gall bladder) causes further complications. A complicated disease always prolongs hospital stay.
Myth 4: Gall stones will form again after Gall bladder removal?
No, the gall stones do not form again if the gall bladder is removed. Gall bladder is the only site of stone formation, once the gall bladder is removed, Gall stones do not form again.
Myth 5: I need bed rest and will not be able to work after Gall bladder surgery?
No, this is not true. It’s the other way. Gall bladder surgery is performed by Laparoscopic method. Pain after surgery is minimal, you will have a short hospital stay and will be discharged the very next day after surgery. Also, you will be able to resume physical activities soon after surgery and get back to office quickly as the wounds of laparoscopic surgery are too small, pain is very minimal and heal very fast with imperceptible scars.