Is gallbladder surgery painfull?

Question

My father in law had the surgery and after he was returned to his room for the next 3 days he was not given pain medication. Seven days later he died of acute respiratory distress syndrome (the kidneys failed, he got a blood clot a day after the surgery).

My position is that he could not expand his lungs the way he needed to because he was in pain (he was 87). And there for the pneumonia / ards set in his lungs. Once he was admitted to icu (on a monday), they gave him morfine. Which tells me that the health care professionals knew that he had pain. Part of the excuse to the family was that his doctor was not in on the weekend.

For a younger person, this surgery would have allowed them to go home in four hours. For someone his age he was to go home 3 days later.

Is gallbladder surgery recovery painful?

I'd like to add that he was in good health other than having gall stone. I believe the surgery was a key hole procedure, since the doctor said that younger patients can go home in four hours. He had a lawn care business, of which he was still working until he fail ill with gall stones. He was not a smoker. His vitals were supriseingly normal for his age. Before the surgery the doctor said that his lungs were clear. Other than being weak from not eating because of the gall bladder, he was in good health.

I do think that the Willis-Knighton Medical Center is a hospital to think twice about before admitting a loved one. Due diligence is not their strong suit.

Thank you for your input. I'm just trying to make sense of his death.

Answer 1

I had my gallbladder laproscopically removed, so my recovery was with only minor pain and discomfort. I was in and out of the hospital the same day. But I was young. I can imagine that if you are cut open to remove the gallbladder it would be quite painful. Did your father in law say he was in pain when he came out, before going into distress?

Answer 2

Anaesthetic when in the best of health has its risks, given your father in-law age, may have a part in the out come.

Was he a smoker?
Did he have a lung condition such as asthma?

As these may also impact on recovery and out comes of anaesthetic.

I find it hard to believe, but does not surprise me, that he was not given any pain relief after the op, the operation is a little uncomfortable, (not as bad as the gall bladder attack thou).
But hospitals do there own thing, and it make me mad that we mare humans have to suffer.

Did they do key hole surgery or cut him open? If cut there would have been more pain.

Given his age he should have been observed and monitored closely.

I would ask the hospital that if the doctor was not available then why did they not seek his/her guidance or some other suitably qualified doctor for pain treatment.

Answer 3

my personal opinion is that it was not very painful. 10 yrs ago I had my gallbladder removed laprisocpically. I was 22 at the time. I went in one morning and went home the next. My surgeon gave me nothing more than tylenol for pain. I was back at work less than a week later and didnt have hardly any pain. I was mainly a bit sore from the intrusion of the instruments.