Consumer Information

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Laparoscopic (lapah-ROS-ko-pik) cholecystectomy (ko-le-sis-TEK-to-me) is surgery to treat gallbladder and bile duct diseases. These diseases include cholecystitis (swelling of the gallbladder) and cholelithiasis (stones in the gallbladder or bile ducts). The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located under the liver on the right side of the upper abdomen (belly). It stores bile that comes from the liver and helps in the digestion of food. Bile is carried by the bile duct to the intestines. If left untreated, gallstones may block the flow of bile and cause more swelling, infection, and abdominal pain.
In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, small incisions (cuts) are made in your child's abdomen. Caregivers will insert special tools and a laparoscope through these incisions to do the surgery. A laparoscope is a long metal tube with a light and tiny video camera on the end. This gives caregivers a clear view of the abdominal area while watching the images on a monitor. During this surgery, your child's gallbladder and gallstones will be removed (taken out). With a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, your child's cholecystitis and cholelithiasis may be cured and the symptoms they cause relieved.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight infection caused by bacteria. Give this medicine as ordered until it is all gone, even if your child feels better. Stopping an antibiotic without the caregiver's OK may make it unable to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to antibiotics.
Pain medicine: Caregivers may give medicine to decrease your child's pain. Tell a caregiver if your child's pain does not go away or comes back after taking this medicine. Pain medicine can have side effects. Tell a caregiver if your child has trouble breathing, is very sleepy, or has an upset stomach. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to any medicine.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

Diet: A caregiver, called a dietitian, may talk to you about your child's feeding and nutrition. A dietitian may increase the amount of calories your child is getting. You may ask him if it is OK to breastfeed your child or what milk you should feed him.

Give your child a good, well-balanced diet to help him feel better, have more energy, and heal faster. If your child is able to eat normally, let him eat a variety of healthy foods. These may include fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Special formulas may be added to your child's foods or liquids. These may give him extra calories to help him grow.

Help your child to rest. Your child should rest as much as possible. Give your child books or a drawing pad for quiet play, and let him sleep when he feels like it.

Wound care: When you are allowed to give your child a bath or shower, carefully wash the incisions with soap and water. Afterwards, put on clean, new bandages. Change your child's bandages any time they get wet or dirty. Ask your child's caregivers for more information about wound care.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

You have a fever (increased body temperature).
Your child has chills, a cough, or feels weak and achy.
Your child has nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
Your child is irritable and crying more than usual.
Your child's bandage becomes soaked with blood.
Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash.
You have questions or concerns about your child's surgery, condition, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

Your child feels full and cannot burp or vomit (throw up).
Your child has pain in his abdomen or shoulder area that does not go away or gets worse.
Your child has problems having a bowel movement.
Your child has pus or a foul-smelling odor coming from his incision.
Your child has severe chest or shoulder pain and trouble breathing all of a sudden.
Your child's vomit is greenish in color, looks like coffee grounds, or has blood in it.
Your child's symptoms come back.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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