The Signs of Infection After Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery is needed when the gallbladder is inflamed or infected from disease or gallstones. Just like any other surgery, gallbladder surgery comes with risks such as infection, which can be serious if it is not dealt with right away. The infection could spread to the bloodstream, which may lead to death if untreated.

Gallbladder surgery is typically performed using a laparoscopic camera. Three small incisions are made and the gallbladder is removed using tiny robotic arms.In almost all cases laparoscopic gallbladder surgery goes very well. However, in rare instances the surgeon needs to open up the patient with a large incision if he or she is having difficulty seeing with the camera due to bleeding, injury or scar tissue from previous surgeries. This can also happen if a person is severely obese. A larger incision means longer downtime for the patient and the possibility of more complications after the surgery.

One of the most common signs of infection after gallbladder surgery is a swollen or red incision. When this happens, the incision often feels painful to the touch. Go to the emergency room or visit your doctor right away to take care of the infection. Your doctor will advise you to watch for this while also keeping your wounds clean. Avoid taking a bath or doing any strenuous activities right after surgery.

Another sign of infection is yellow or clear discharge at the incision site. Oftentimes your incision will also be swollen and red. Your body is trying to take care of the infection by creating mucous. In some cases the human body is able to stop the infection in its tracks. However, if you do notice any type of discharge coming from your incision it is very important to see your doctor right away.

Another sign of infection after gallbladder surgery is a high fever. Your body temperature increases in an effort to get rid of the bacteria by killing it off with heat. If you have a high fever for more than a few hours, ask someone drive you to the emergency room right away. Your temperature may continue to spike and afterwards you may experience cold sweats. You may also need antibiotics or some other type of medication.

Another sign of infection after gallbladder surgery is severe diarrhea. It is normal to have mild diarrhea on and off a few weeks after having her gallbladder removed. However, it is not normal to have severe painful or bloody diarrhea right after surgery. In fact, your digestion should be moving very slowly for the first week after surgery. Many doctors advise that you should only to eat clear liquid broths, water and Jell-O after surgery.