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General Outlook. Although cholecystectomy is very safe, as with any operation there are risks of complications depending on whether the procedure is done on an elective or emergency basis.
- When cholecystectomy is performed as elective surgery, the mortality rates are very low. (Even in the elderly, mortality rates are only between 0.7% to 2%.)
- Emergency cholecystectomy carries a much higher mortality rate (as high 19% in ill elderly patients).
Long-Term Effects of Gallbladder Removal. Although removal of the gallbladder has not been known to cause any long-term adverse effects aside from occasional diarrhea, some researchers have been concerned about its long-term impact on the body's cholesterol levels.
One study found that within three days of the operation, levels of total cholesterol and LDL returned to their preoperative levels. After three years, however, some types of cholesterol not ordinarily associated with coronary artery disease had risen significantly. These results did not necessarily indicate any increased risk for coronary artery disease, but they did show that the metabolism of cholesterol by the liver had been altered. People who have had their gallbladders removed should have their cholesterol levels checked periodically, as should every adult. Short-term treatment with the cholesterol-lowering known as statins, such as pravastatin (Pravachol), appears to lower cholesterol levels in surgical patients.
What Type of Surgery is Right for You?
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Laparoscopy
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Open Cholecystectomy
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Treatment of choice for most adult gallstone patients, with or without symptoms, who have electively chosen to have their gallbladders removed.
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Patients who have had extensive previous abdominal surgery.
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Most patients with acute cholecystitis not accompanied by infection or perforation. (Up to 30% will need to convert to open surgery, however, depending on the severity of the condition.)
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