Dr Kirkland Patients and Gall Bladder Removal?

So the chances of me developing gall stones after surgery are greatly increased due to my excessive weight and the fact that you have more weight to lose, and the faster it comes off. I am lobbying to have mine out at the time of surgery! Not really hopeful that it will happen - but I am going to try like hell. I have had a gall bladder ultrasound and apparently it came back clean. But I'm not stopping there! What I want to know is, have any of Dr K's patients had their's removed during WLS, for preventive measures, or only when he saw something wrong with it during WLS? If the facts remain that you have a ton of weight to lose, you will more than likely develop stones, I don't see why it would be such a big deal to remove it now; rather than wait for it to happen, only to have to go back in... Has anyone lobbied to have it remove for preventive measures, and WON?

I felt the same way you do. As my surgeon explained to me, he ONLY removes the gallbladder when there are stones. If there are no gallstones, he prescibes Actigall (ursodiol) for 9 months post op during the period of greatest weight loss to help prevent formation of gallstones. Not fool proof by any means, especially if patients are not compliant with taking the Actigall. But he said that it was MUCH safer leaving a healthy gallbladder than removing it routinely. If they remove it there IS a risk of bile leakage at the common duct... which is a complication that WILL NOT happen if they don't remove it. There are complications that can occur with gall bladder removal. If your's is healthy, consider trusting that your surgeon knows what he's doing. Good luck with you upcoming surgery. Irene

Thanks. I know they know what they're doing - you have to put your life into their hands but I've been reading that there's only like a 20% chance that the actigull works. I'll just keep my fingers crossed!