Discharge Instructions for Open Cholecystectomy

You have had a procedure known as an open cholecystectomy. This is a procedure to remove the gallbladder through an incision in your belly. You either had a vertical (up-and-down) incision in the middle of your belly or a crosswise incision in the upper-right part of your belly beneath your ribs.

You can live a full and healthy life without your gallbladder. This includes eating the foods and doing the things you enjoyed before your gallbladder problems started. Here are guidelines for home care after surgery.

Home care

Recommendations for home care include the following:

• Ask someone to drive you to your appointments for the next week. Don’t drive until you are no longer taking pain medicine and can step on the brake pedal without hesitation. 

• Don’t worry if you feel tired for the first couple of weeks after your operation. Fatigue is common: 

  • Nap when you feel tired.

  • Get plenty of rest.

• Walk around the house, do office work, climb stairs, or ride in a car if you feel able to do so.

• Don’t do any strenuous physical activities, heavy lifting (nothing heavier than 10 pounds), or sports for 4 weeks after surgery.

• Eat your normal diet. If your healthcare provider recommends a low-fat diet, ask for menus and other diet information.

• Gently wash the skin around your incision daily with mild soap and water.

• If there is a gauze dressing on your incision, change it daily or as often as necessary to keep it dry and clean.

• You may take a shower (even if there is a surgical drain in place), unless your healthcare provider gives you different directions.

• Don’t sit in a bathtub, swimming pool, or hot tub until the incision is closed and any surgical drains are removed.