Surgery for gallbladder removal, called cholecystectomy, is one of the most common abdominal operations in the country. It is especially suitable for treating bile calculations, the popular gallbladder, or calculating cholecystopathy. It is estimated that the problem reaches up to 20% of the Brazilian population.
A survey, conducted by scientists from Brazilian universities and Bolivia, reveals that, between 2019 and 2023, there were 1.3 million hospitalizations related to the problem of patients over 15 years in the Unified Health System (SUS).
Made from data available on the Datasus platform, the study also shows that the incidence of calculating cholecytopathy is 3.1 times more frequent in women than in men – from hospitalizations mapped in the survey, 1,059,926 were among female and 328,213 male.
However, despite being part of the routine in hospitals, the procedure still generates the doubt: How does the body work without the gallbladder? Contrary to popular belief, it is not possible to remove only the stones: it is necessary to remove the entire organ, responsible for storing the bile, a liver -produced substance that helps in fat digestion.
The good news is that the body usually adapts well. After gallbladder removal, the bile continuously flows into the intestine, even without food intake. “The recovery of cholecystectomy, which can also be indicated in cases of suspected cancer, pancreatitis caused by calculation or gallbladder polyps, is usually quiet and very well tolerated,” says the surgeon of the Victor Edmond Seid digestive tract of the Einstein Hospital Israelita.
Why do the stones in the gallbladder form?
The calculations arise due to the malfunction of the gallbladder and the imbalance in bile components. Factors such as cholesterol changes, rapid weight loss (such as A), age over 40 years, multiple pregnancies and esophageal and stomach surgeries increase the risk of stone formation.
Symptoms include pain on the right side of the abdomen, especially after fat -laden meals, as well as nausea and poor digestion. Even when there are no signs, stones can lead to complications such as pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas) or cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), making surgery necessary.
Post-surgical recovery
Some people may have softened feces or diarrhea in the first weeks after surgery, especially after prolonged fasting or fatty food. “In the case of most patients who have the presence of calculations, the gallbladder is no longer functional, so its removal, which is usually done by laparoscopy, in a minimally invasive way, does not bring any symptoms, only relief,” explains the surgeon of the Digestive System Hilton Libanori, also from Einstein.
When it occurs, it can usually be controlled by dividing meals throughout the day and avoiding long periods without eating. “Few -operated patients refer to intolerance to very fatty foods. Usually, the opposite occurs, ie there is an improvement in digestion,” says Libanori.
After the initial recovery period, which includes avoiding very greasy foods and intense physical activities in the first 30 days, most people can have a normal life without restrictions.
