Gallbladder Surgery/Removal in Singapore

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Introduction

Gallbladder surgery/removal in Singapore is a common major abdominal operation and also one of the most effective ways to treat gallstones, which can cause severe pain and discomfort.

The surgery is usually done by the surgeon, making smaller incisions in your abdomen. The surgery is also known as laparoscopic gallbladder removal and is known to be less invasive as compared to traditional methods.

Hence, there is a lower risk of side effects and faster recovery post-surgery. To find out more about the causes and gallstones removal surgery costs in Singapore, read on.

What Are Gallstones (Gallbladder Stones)?

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ that’s found under your liver and its main function is to store and release bile, which aids in digestion.

Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Some people may develop just one gallstone throughout their lives, while others may develop multiple at the same time.

Generally, gallstones exhibit no symptoms, thus many people go about their lives not requiring gallstone or gallbladder surgery in Singapore.

However, if a gallstone becomes trapped in an opening (duct) inside the gallbladder, it can trigger a sudden, intense pain in your abdomen that usually lasts between 1 and 5 hours. This type of abdominal pain is known as biliary colic.

It starts in the area above the navel and can radiate to the back, and often occurs after a heavy meal, leading it to be often mistaken as gastric pain.

Some people with gallstones can also develop complications, such as inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis).

This can cause persistent pain, jaundice (yellow skin) and a fever. In such cases, it is highly recommended to treat gallstones via gallbladder surgery in Singapore, where the gallbladder is removed via an open cholecystectomy.

Understanding The Importance Of Your Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ found underneath the liver. Its main purpose is to store and concentrate bile.

Bile is a yellow liquid produced by the liver to help digest fats. It’s passed from the liver into the gallbladder through ducts known as bile ducts.

The bile is stored in the gallbladder and becomes more concentrated especially during fasting. During a meal, the body senses the fats and the gallbladder releases bile into the digestive system where it helps in the digestion of fats and oils.

Causes Of Gallstones

Gallstones are thought to develop because of an imbalance in the chemical make-up of bile inside the gallbladder.

In most cases, the levels of cholesterol in bile become too high and the excess cholesterol forms into stones. There is some evidence that a previous infection of the gallbladder could also be the cause of gallstones

Gallstones are very common. It’s estimated more than 1 in every 10 adults has gallstones, although a minority of people develop symptoms. Risks factor for developing gallstones include obesity, females and over 40 years (and older).

Common Treatments For Gallstones

Treatment is usually only necessary if gallstones are causing:

Symptoms such as abdominal pain
Complications such as jaundice, acute pancreatitis or infection(cholecystitis)

In these cases, keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder may be recommended. This procedure, known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is relatively simple to perform and has a low risk of complications.

What Happens After I Remove The Gallbladder

It’s possible to lead a normal life without a gallbladder.

Your liver will still produce bile to digest food, but the bile will be stored in the bile ducts instead of the gallbladder before it is released into the small intestine after a meal.

However, we normally advise patients to avoid very oily foods for 6 months as the bile stored in the bile ducts may not be adequate to digest an oily meal. The situation normalizes after about 6 months because the bile ducts expand and are able to store more bile and a normal diet can resume.

How We Can Help With Gallbladder Surgery In Singapore

Gallstone disease is usually easily treated with surgery. Very severe cases can be life-threatening, particularly in people who are already in poor health. We advise seeking immediate medical attention if you are unsure or have faced an attack before.

Dr QM Leong is an experienced colorectal doctor with relevant medical specialities in gallbladder surgery, gallstones surgery and laparoscopic surgery, who will accurately diagnose your condition for any signs or any developing symptoms of gallstones or gallbladder infections before determining the ideal treatment for your condition.

We are fully committed to providing a pleasant experience, treatment and patient care, so do not hesitate to call us or drop us a message to find out more about gallbladder surgery or the gallstones removal surgery cost in Singapore.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gallbladder Removal Surgery In Singapore

Are There Any Side Effects After Gallbladder Removal In Singapore?

Contrary to many rumours about gallbladder removal shortening life expectancy. It actually ‘force’ an individual who has undergone surgical removal to make healthier choices. You will be restricted to a limited amount of food as your body will have to adjust to not having a gallbladder. This is a piece of good news as you will be taking in foods with more fibre, which benefits your health in the long term. You are also more likely to lose some weight because of the need to avoid very oily food in the first six months after surgery.

How Much Does Gallstones Removal Surgery Cost In Singapore?

The general breakdown for gallstones removal surgery cost in Singapore is as follows. The procedure itself ranges from $5000 to $8000, (based on MOH fee guidelines), depending on the severity of the individual. Depending on the individual’s medical insurance coverage, the total cost might differ as well. Contact us to find out more.

Is It Worth Getting Gallbladder Removal In Singapore?

There are certain risks involved with gallbladder surgery: infection, bleeding, injury to the common bile duct, etc. However, it is worth noting that if you experience frequent attacks, it is recommended to go for the surgery as it is likely to recur in the future.

By not opting for the gallbladder to be removed, you risk exposing yourself to more unpredictable attacks, which may result in severe inflammation or infection of bile ducts, etc.

Can The Surgeon Just Remove The Gallstones And Leave The Gallbladder Alone?

The simple answer is no. The main reason for developing gallstones is an abnormal gallbladder. Removing the gallstones and leaving the gallbladder behind will result in gallstones forming again, which requires a second surgery.

The second surgery will be more hazardous because of the scar tissue from the first surgery. Complication rates will be higher. No qualified surgeon will offer to remove the gallstones only. Both gallbladder and gallstones will be removed during surgery.

Must I Avoid All Oil/Fat In My Diet After Gallbladder Surgery?

Although the gallbladder is removed during surgery, the liver still produces bile which can still digest some oil in the diet. Hence we will advise patients to have a less oily diet for about 6 months. After about 6 months, the bile ducts will expand and can contain more bile, hence a more normal diet can be consumed.

What Happens If I Eat An Oily Meal After Gallbladder Surgery?

The oil in the meal will not be well digested and you are likely to need to pass out some undigested oily food. Don’t worry, you won’t die if you ate something too oily. The worst thing that can happen is that you will purge out the oily food. Some patients even lose a significant amount of weight due to the change in diet.

About Dr QM Leong

Colorectal & Hernia Surgeon in Singapore

Dr Leong is a general and colorectal surgeon in Singapore who graduated from the University of London in 2000. He obtained his membership to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2003 and started working in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2003. He started his Advanced Specialist Training in 2005 and passed his fellowship exams in 2008. Dr Leong was awarded the prestigious MOH HMDP scholarship to train under Prof Kim Seon Hahn in Korea University for Laparoscopic and Robotic colorectal surgery in 2010.

Dr Leong is amongst a handful of hernia and colorectal surgeons in Singapore who practice Single Incision Laparoscopic surgery. This is a technical and complex procedure that is minimally invasive, speeds up recovery, and confers excellent cosmetic results. Dr Leong also routinely trains basic and advanced specialist trainees in laparoscopic surgery, and regularly proctors consultant surgeons in complex colorectal cases.

Beyond laparoscopic surgery, Dr Leong also performs a repertoire of minimally invasive General Surgery procedures. He is also an experienced endoscopist with more than 10000 procedures, performing diagnostic and therapeutic scopes for elective and emergency surgical conditions. He performs direct access colonoscopies and oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy for patients and will strive to perform the procedures on the same day if possible for patients’ convenience.

Insurance

Our surgery is on the panel of most of the major insurance companies and if you are covered by corporate insurance, you may be entitled to a cashless visit to our clinic.