Internal scarring: pre-op problem?

[BoiledDenim 9]

Hey! Lurker here, mostly, in the pre-op phases. Just had consultation today with a surgeon who's operated on me previously. Lap cholecystectomy, to be exact.

He recalled my gall bladder was quite inflamed. As such, it wasn't all that easy to remove. No complications, but the sucker was just all giant and gross in there, I presume. He's said scar tissue may be an issue, and that got me to wondering if any of you had issues during your procedures due to scar tissue.

Thanks for your time! Cheers 🥂

[Kat410 423]

I had a gall bladder surgery 3 years prior to my VSG. My gallbladder surgery was started laparoscopically and they ended up opening me up due to a rare but serious complication (Mirazzi's syndrome which is when a stone is impacted in one of the hepatic ducts)

I had surgery in Mexico but I did all of my lab work in the US with my PCP and advised my surgeon in advance of my prior surgery. The surgeon actually removed some of the scar tissue which was great because certain movements caused me abdominal pain due to adhesions.

Truthfully there's not much they can predict until they get in there.

[Berry78 4,261]

Scar tissue is as variable as the patient. But it does pose problems for a surgeon. You should be prepared to have a drain when you wake up.

Occasionally scar tissue can be so bad as to make surgery impossible, or the surgeon can't do a more involved procedure. (Have to do sleeve instead of bypass). Those are kinda worse-case scenarios though.. chances are very good that you won't have issues.

[BoiledDenim 9]

Truthfully there's not much they can predict until they get in there.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I sort of figured that's probably what would have to happen. Definitely have a worst case scenario outlook, as a lot of folks seem to here as well. Suppose it's just the pre-op's biggest fear: being disqualified from surgery some how.

Thank you for sharing!

[BoiledDenim 9]

Scar tissue is as variable as the patient. But it does pose problems for a surgeon...
...chances are very good that you won't have issues.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I do feel a bit of comfort hearing that while always feasible, these complications can be uncommon and possibly worked around (open instead of lap).

Thanks, guys!

[KateBruin 344]

Hey! Lurker here, mostly, in the pre-op phases. Just had consultation today with a surgeon who's operated on me previously. Lap cholecystectomy, to be exact.

He recalled my gall bladder was quite inflamed. As such, it wasn't all that easy to remove. No complications, but the sucker was just all giant and gross in there, I presume. He's said scar tissue may be an issue, and that got me to wondering if any of you had issues during your procedures due to scar tissue.

Thanks for your time! Cheers 🥂

I had a lap cholecystectomy in 2009 and my sleeve 8/23 was seemingly no problem. He just made the incisions a couple inches from my GB ones. 5 in total. 2 small, one inchish and one inch and a half and most painful but that was where they removed the stomach. I also have a 6" incision from my belly button to pubic bone but that was obviously not in the area operated on. Plus I have a hernia through my above belly button GB incision.

No drain. No reported problems. No voiced expected problems. Just lots of scars!