Complications of cholecystectomy
Although the vast majority of laparoscopic cholecystectomies proceed without any problems, complications are possible. These include:
 | Complications which may occur after any operation. These include chest infection, excessive bruising, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis, heart problems etc. |
| Damage to internal organs (especially the bowel) and blood vessels during insertion of the ports can occur in 2% of cases. This is less of a problem when the ports are inserted under direct vision. Damage to the major blood vessels in the abdomen can occur in 0.1% (1 case in a 1000). |
| Injury to the bile ducts. This may occur roughly once in every 500 cholecystectomies. If injury to the common bile duct is recognized early and corrected, the outcome is very good. |
| Bile leak - this may occur from the gallbladder bed, because the clips slip of the cystic duct or because of damage to the bile ducts. Usually presents early and may need ERCP or a second operation. |
| Post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This is the persistence of symptoms despite surgery. Some of these patients may have a retained stone in the bile duct - a CT cholangiogram or ERCP may be needed. In the rest, the gallbladder may not have been responsible for the pains in the first place - the pain may have been due to stomach problems (ulcers), irritable bowel syndrome or to disease of the liver or pancreas. |
| Death. This can occur in 0.1% - 0.5% of cases (1-5 per 1000 operations). The risks increase with age. |