Medical Questions » Liver and Gall Bladder Questions » Question No. 582
| Question: | Ten weeks ago I had my gall bladder removed by laparoscopy. I was discharged after three days, but since then I have had discomfort under the right rib cage and in the shoulder blade. Is this pain normal? |
| Answer: | Laparoscopic surgery is marvellous innovation that enables medium level surgery, such as removing the gall bladder, to be performed through tiny holes using long thin tubes to look into the belly and operate through.
The main advantages are far less pain from the incision, and being able to leave hospital in a very short time.
During the operation, the belly is blown up with gas in order to separate the organs from each other and enable the surgeon to see what he or she is doing. At the end of the operation, every attempt is made to remove this gas, but it is impossible to remove all of it.
As you recover, the remaining gas is slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, but this may take some weeks.
One of the places the gas tends to accumulate is above the liver, and under the diaphragm, behind rhe ribs on your righr side. Here it can cause some irritation and discomfort. The nerves that supply the diaphragm run down from the shoulder, so it is not unusual to experience referred pain in the shoulder from the gas undet the diaphragm.
All your symptoms should settle gradually in the three months after the opetation, and thetc is no cause for concern unless the pain worsens.
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