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What Does Abdominal Swelling Indicate Post Gallbladder Surgery?

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Posted on Thu, 5 Oct 2017
Question: Hello, I had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery on August 9th scheduled by my PCP. On August 10th, my abdomen started swelling up with fluid. I returned to the surgeon on August 11th. He said he didn't see anything abnormal. As I was leaving his office he had his nurse cancel my post surgery visit the following week. I went to my PCP the following Thursday. He put me on diuretics and laxitive prescriptions. When asked if something could have been cut or nicked during the surgery, he said "that made no sense to him". My abdomen kept getting tighter and tighter. I went to the ER on August 17th. essentially the same thing, lot of blood work, meds prescribed were furosemide and spironolact. I went back to the ER on Sept 2nd with essentially the same results. Finally the pressure and feeling of being about to burst was so severe I went back to the ER on Sept. 4th (labor day) and insisted they drain the fluid out. Being a holiday, they had to call people in. Late in they day, the radiology technician drained out 8 liters of dark yellow fluid. My abdomen started filling up again almost immediately even though I had been trying to limit the water and fluid intake. (rest of my body looks like a scarecrow). I had my PCP schedule another draining (parecentises I believe it is called) on Thursday Sept. 7th. This time 4 liters were drained out of dark yellow fluid. I insisted my PCP refer me to a gastrointerologist. I saw this doctor on Sept 11th. He ordered more blood tests, prescribed more furosemide and spironolact at a higher dosage, and scheduled another parecentises (draining) procedure for today, Sept. 13th. My abdomen is very tight, my back is tight, my spinal column in pain. When I asked him if there was a leak from the original surgery he said "Nah, that isnt' it. I fail to understand whey these two doctors won't at least look or scan for the possibility of a leak. Prior to this surgery I had dropped to a very comfortable 192 lbs, was looking and feeling great. I had no abdominal pain. Since the surgery i'm essentially unable to do my job and am always in acute discomfort. I'm extremely thin with an abdomen that looks like i'm packing around a watermelon. Any advise would be appreciated. XXXXXXX osborn
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Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Get LFT done. Upload LFT report + report of aspirated fluid

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. I have gone carefully through the mentioned details and let me resonate the opinion of the two doctors by saying that I too do not think that it is from a leak related to the surgery you have undergone. I would insist you to get a liver function test done and to upload the report. I assume that the paracentesis fluid has also been analyzed. I would request you to upload the reports of that too. Based on that I would try to correlate and help you out.

I would await your response. Let me know if I could help further.

Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3877 Questions

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What Does Abdominal Swelling Indicate Post Gallbladder Surgery?

Brief Answer: Get LFT done. Upload LFT report + report of aspirated fluid Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. I have gone carefully through the mentioned details and let me resonate the opinion of the two doctors by saying that I too do not think that it is from a leak related to the surgery you have undergone. I would insist you to get a liver function test done and to upload the report. I assume that the paracentesis fluid has also been analyzed. I would request you to upload the reports of that too. Based on that I would try to correlate and help you out. I would await your response. Let me know if I could help further. Regards