Talk:Cholecystectomy

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Some of the information in this article appears to be outdated. The primary source for this article seems to be this document, which appears to be at least 12 years old. (Its most recent reference is from 1992). Specific concerns are as follows:

• I believe, based on personal experience, that the rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy is lower than 5%, in the past decade surgeons have gotten much better at this procedure.
• It is not my understanding that cholecystectomy is indicated only by the presence of gall stones. I have heard surgeons, on a routine basis, give cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) as the pre-operative diagnosis for cholecystectomies.
• I have heard surgeons state that the non-operative treatments for gall stones have been shown not to be effective, and that the removal of the gall bladder is the standard of care for the treatment of gall stones
• The training of general surgeons has incorporated laparoscopic techniques for over a decade. And, so far as I know, institutions no longer keep separate credentialing procedures for laparoscopic surgery.

My opinions are based on over a decade of assisting surgeons as a Surgical Technologist. However, I am not a physician and do not have the formal training with which to refute the statements in the articles from personal knowledge, nor do I have easy access to the relevant research materials, so I am unwilling to change documented statements without a stronger or more recent authority. Dsmdgold 02:42, Feb 7, 2005 (UTC)

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I mostly agree on the first three points you make, and as for the last one, I don't know. I guess it varies from place to place.

The conversion to open cholecystectomy is also made when stones have made their way outside the bladder and when the anatomy is unclear, and the surgeon told me that it's about 5-10% of the operations they do that they have to convert.. So that number isn't really bad..

The standard care for treatment of cholecystitis and gallstones is nowadays a cholecystectomy. But only if you've had problems with the stones. If they're just there and don't make any noise, they will probably not be removed.. --HenrikP 16:47, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] cholecystectomy and digestion

Is there anyone out there that can answer the following question for me: How does a cholecystectomy affect digestion?

Aside from disruptions (e.g. ileus) that are common post-op in the first few days with any abdominal surgery, there is a period of adjustment after a cholecystectomy; diarrhea is common and may last for 3-4 weeks.[1] Pain is also common, but that ought to be well controlled with analgesics.

Aside from diarrhea, if the person previously associated pain with eating or frequently got pain at night (several hours after eating), they'll feel relieved that they won't have it. (Classically, pain starts several hours after a meal in cholecystitis and is especially bad after a fatty meal.[2]) Feel free to update the article with any other info you find... it could use some improvement. Nephron  T|C 03:01, 12 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] tachycardia after cholecystectomy

I have a close friend who after her cholecystectomy is experiencing tachycardia.

She has to take medication to control this and also experiences poor circulation, occasionally blueness of the lips and fingertips / nails. She is always very cold now and pale. But the medication she takes now controls the heart problems. She is only 23 and this has only started after her operation.

Does anyone know what could cause increased heart rate and poor circulation after having the gallbladder removed?

Adamld85 23:58, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

It sounds to me that these two condition are most likely to be two separate condition and is not related. There is no physiological or pathological cause that i can think of to account for "tachycardia" and "poor circulation" after a cholecystectomy.

Note also that wikipedia is not a place for medical consultation and my comment serves only as a comment and NOT a piece of medical advice. Consult a doctor if necessary. Again: no piece of information on wikipedia should be used as MEDICAL ADVICE.

bubu~ 06:39, 11 December 2006 (UTC)