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Not what you want to hear from the surgeon while you are in recovery.
I had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday, 8/26. When I came out, the surgeon told The Wife that it took a little longer due to me having unusual anatomy. However, everything looked good otherwise.
Then at 1:00 AM Thursday morning, I woke The Wife and told her to call an ambulance. My abdomen was severely distended. I could only take a short gasp of breath before the sharp pain in my diaphragm forced me to stop and exhale.
After arriving at the hospital, I was given a healthy dose of pain meds and placed on a BiPAP to help me breathe. The next several days would be a little fuzzy.
That unusual anatomy was a very long and wide cystic duct. Apparently, the clamp to seal off the gallbladder did not seal. I was leaking bile. It was decided that my gastroenterologist would install a stent. This was done via an upper endoscopy. I was still in a great amount of pain, so they decided to do it under general anesthesia. Turned out to be a good call as the unusual anatomy made the procedure more difficult. It also did not help. I was still leaking. Now, both my surgeon and my gastroenterologist have declared that I have the longest cystic duct that they have ever seen.
They decided to try again with a longer and wider stent. They also enlarged the opening of the duct to reduce pressure and increase the bile flow. And I was still leaking.
The surgeon then decided to go back in and install a pair of JP drains. One at the leak and one in the bottom of the abdomen as a catch all.
All of the above occurred over the course of six days. The drains were put in 9/1. As they were holding open options for procedures, I was also NPO the entire time. Not like I was hungry through any of this, but no water left me with severe dry mouth. On the plus side, I did get a happy button (PCA). Pain meds as needed.
The drains are working. The abdominal swelling reduced. By 9/3, I was able to get out of bed. Unfortunately, the bowels started working on 9/2. Jennifer the PCT, you are an angel. I am sorry for what I put you through that night.
I was released on 9/10. Fourteen days in the hospital. Unable to get out of bed for five days straight.
Looks like the bile leak has closed up. Not much coming out the bile drain. I will get the abdomen drain removed next week. The bile drain will probably come out the week of 9/27. Now all I have to do is wait.
On the plus side, my surgeon will be presenting my case at the next conference he attends. I'm going to be in the medical books!
I had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday, 8/26. When I came out, the surgeon told The Wife that it took a little longer due to me having unusual anatomy. However, everything looked good otherwise.
Then at 1:00 AM Thursday morning, I woke The Wife and told her to call an ambulance. My abdomen was severely distended. I could only take a short gasp of breath before the sharp pain in my diaphragm forced me to stop and exhale.
After arriving at the hospital, I was given a healthy dose of pain meds and placed on a BiPAP to help me breathe. The next several days would be a little fuzzy.
That unusual anatomy was a very long and wide cystic duct. Apparently, the clamp to seal off the gallbladder did not seal. I was leaking bile. It was decided that my gastroenterologist would install a stent. This was done via an upper endoscopy. I was still in a great amount of pain, so they decided to do it under general anesthesia. Turned out to be a good call as the unusual anatomy made the procedure more difficult. It also did not help. I was still leaking. Now, both my surgeon and my gastroenterologist have declared that I have the longest cystic duct that they have ever seen.
They decided to try again with a longer and wider stent. They also enlarged the opening of the duct to reduce pressure and increase the bile flow. And I was still leaking.
The surgeon then decided to go back in and install a pair of JP drains. One at the leak and one in the bottom of the abdomen as a catch all.
All of the above occurred over the course of six days. The drains were put in 9/1. As they were holding open options for procedures, I was also NPO the entire time. Not like I was hungry through any of this, but no water left me with severe dry mouth. On the plus side, I did get a happy button (PCA). Pain meds as needed.
The drains are working. The abdominal swelling reduced. By 9/3, I was able to get out of bed. Unfortunately, the bowels started working on 9/2. Jennifer the PCT, you are an angel. I am sorry for what I put you through that night.
I was released on 9/10. Fourteen days in the hospital. Unable to get out of bed for five days straight.
Looks like the bile leak has closed up. Not much coming out the bile drain. I will get the abdomen drain removed next week. The bile drain will probably come out the week of 9/27. Now all I have to do is wait.
On the plus side, my surgeon will be presenting my case at the next conference he attends. I'm going to be in the medical books!
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