What to prepare before gallstone surgery

Before gallstone surgery, patients need to make comprehensive preparations in terms of diet adjustment, physical examination, and psychological preparation to ensure the smooth progress of the operation and reduce postoperative risks.

Gallstone surgery is usually performed when the gallstones are large and cause repeated pain or infection. Once the gallstones cause complications such as cholecystitis and jaundice, surgery may be the best treatment option. Before surgery, doctors generally use ultrasound examinations and blood tests to confirm the size and location of the gallstones and the health of the gallbladder and surrounding tissues.

A few days before surgery, the diet should be as light as possible, avoiding greasy, high-fat foods to reduce the burden on the gallbladder. For example, eat more easily digestible foods, such as porridge, steamed eggs, or white rice porridge, and avoid spicy stimulation. It is usually necessary to fast for 8 hours before surgery, which is critical because eating can increase the contraction of the gallbladder and affect surgical operations. In some cases, doctors may recommend that patients stop taking certain medications, such as anticoagulants, to reduce the risk of intraoperative bleeding.

Psychologically, it is very important to maintain a calm state of mind. If the patient has concerns about the surgery, he or she can ask the doctor for detailed information about the surgical process, postoperative recovery time, etc. to help reduce anxiety. Before the surgery, be sure to complete all examinations as required and adjust your lifestyle as prescribed by the doctor. If you have other underlying diseases, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you need to control them in advance to avoid affecting the safety of the surgery.

Good preoperative preparation can not only help the operation to be completed smoothly, but also lay a good foundation for rapid recovery after the operation. If you have any discomfort or questions during the preparation process, it is recommended to communicate with the doctor in time to avoid delaying the operation.