Women are more likely to develop gallstones as they age. Often, gallstones are found by the age of 65. Some people never have issues, but others experience blockages that cause infections and inflammation.
Approximately 300,000 gallbladder removal surgeries are performed each year. Your mom’s doctor recommends she has her gallbladder removed, and you’re not sure what to expect. A cholecystectomy is often done using laparoscopy. It’s a minimally-invasive surgery with few complications and has your mom going home the same day. Your mom will need some care at home, and that’s why you should consider home health care nurses.

How a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Works

Laparoscopic surgeries use very small incisions and robotic tools that fit within them. Air is inserted into the abdomen to make it easier for tools to get to the gallbladder. The laparoscope is a long, thin camera that the surgeon uses to see the area and remove the gallbladder.

Different Ways for Home Health Care Nurses to Help

As the incisions are smaller, surgical glue may be used instead of stitches, but some surgeons use sutures and bandages. Either way, small incisions will have to be checked for signs of infection as they heal. A home health care nurse is trained in wound care and can alert surgeons if things are not healing properly.

Your mom may be given antibiotics and pain medications. If she’s on these prescriptions, careful management is necessary to avoid an overdose or watch for severe reactions. Nurses can help with medication administration. If your mom needs IV medications or fluids, the nurse can handle IV administration.

Your mom’s surgeon may want to monitor her blood pressure if she has high blood pressure. A home care nurse can take her blood pressure and pulse while she recovers and reports the readings to her surgeon.

Talk to Her Surgeon About Her Recovery Plan

If your mom’s surgeon had to do an open cholecystectomy, she might need to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. Her recovery at home can take up to six weeks. Ensure she’s supported by nurses helping with IVs, wound care, and medication administration. Otherwise, her recovery should take two weeks.

She may also find home health care services that assist your mom with dietary modifications. She may need to avoid fried foods and boost her intake of fiber. A home dietitian can help her with that. Discuss what she needs, and call our agency to schedule services.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448145/

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Health Care Services in Fairfax VA please contact the caring staff at Apex Classic Home Health Care today. (571) 275-9547

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Susana Sekyi

Owner at Apex Classic Home Health Care

We were inspired to open Apex Classic Home Health Care by the wealth of experience working in the nursing and medical fields. We have seen, first-hand, the type of care people need to maintain their health and hope. We use our knowledge and experience to provide all our clients the type of services, guardianship, and comfort they need to live at home. We are expert caregivers, stress relievers, and the trusted source for medical attention and hope that exists in the comfort of our clients’ homes. We work from an overarching philosophy of trust and compassion and strive to be THE premier source for in-home care in our community, and beyond.​

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