Surgery to remove the gallbladder is performed for gallstones or gallbladder problems that cause symptoms such as pain, nausea, or infection. This discusses the cost of performing this surgery.
The gallbladder is a small but very important organ in the digestive system. Pain in this organ can be the result of infections or inflammation, and this pain can cause a lot of restlessness and discomfort. Gallstones, rupture, and sphincter constrictions are the common conditions which can affect a person at any age. The doctors may recommend you a gallbladder removal surgery, also known as cholecystectomy, if the uneasiness and pain due to the diseases does not stop.
Symptoms
High fever, nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, fatigue even after not doing too hectic tasks, heartburn, experiencing pain during inhalation of air, and pain in the chest are the most common symptoms of problems in the gallbladder. Abdominal pain generally occurs after eating, and it sometimes gives a false feeling of abdominal fullness. In some people, shivering can also occur.
Precautionary Measures and Treatment
Firstly, avoid eating foods causing stomach pain and those foods which have high amounts of fat in them. Besides this, drink plenty of water. Strictly follow a balanced diet and avoid alcohol consumption. Some more foods and liquids which you should cut down include chocolates, spicy foods, coffee, legumes, eggs, nuts, and onions. The foods which are highly recommended include apples, apricots, papayas, garlic, cucumber, and lemons.
Doctors generally use endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), computed tomography (CT scan), or sonography for proper diagnosis of gallbladder diseases. The diseases are treated by giving oral drugs to the patients with the purpose of dissolving the stones. However, surgery is the only option if the medications fail to cure the patients completely.
Cost of Surgery
A laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery typically costs USD 3,000 to USD 8,000. Along with this, additional expenses should be considered, especially, the cost of hospital stay, medications, anesthesia, lab costs, and the surgeon’s fee. Depending upon the geographic location, the total expenditure will be approximately USD 25,000 to USD 50,000.
Basically, this surgery is covered by health insurance. Therefore, health insurance covered patients would only need to copay the specialist fee, hospital stay charges, and coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure.
Patients can also avail the benefits of the discounts offered by many hospitals if they are uninsured or pay by cash.
The cost of cholecystectomy and hospital stay in countries like Thailand or Singapore is much cheaper compared to the cost in the US. Also, some places in Mexico and Costa Rica offer medical tourists packages for laparoscopic surgery for approximately USD 4,500 to USD 6,000, which includes the cost of hospital stay, transportation, and lab charges.
Possible Complications
The laparoscopic surgery can cause an injury to the bile duct which can create more problems such as pain in the abdomen and bile leak. This can occur due to the limitations related to visibility in this surgical procedure.
Pain may be experienced by many people due to the leakage of the bile into the pancreas and the small intestine. This is very difficult to deal with and causes jaundice in many cases. The surgery may also lead to pancreatitis in some people.
