Question:
Has anyone have the clips fall off after having gallbladder remove?

My mom had her surgery on 5/30/03 she also had her Gallbladder remove. By Saturday night her condition started to deteriorate. By Sunday her kidneys had shut down and she was put on a ventilator. By Monday afternoon they are telling us that she was not going to make it thru the night that they needed to do exploratory surgery to found out what was going on. What they found was that two of the clips on the cystic duct had fallen off and bile was pumping into her system. I have had an open RNY last September so I am familiar with this procedure. Is it common for these clips to fall off? Has anyone had this happen to someone they know? And what is the long term affect to a person that this has happen to? Also my mother made thru the night she is still in critical condition and on the ventilator. But, she is showing sign of improvement.    — Karen H. (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 4, 2003
Karen, I am not familiar with any "clips" but I did want to let you know that I will say a prayer for your mother's speedy recovery! God Bless darlin!
   — Egyptianeyesdiva

June 4, 2003
Sorry to hear about your mom Karen. I hope she gets better soon. Do you mean staples maybe?
   — TheresaC

June 4, 2003
Hi Karen- Sorry to hear about your mother. Hope she will be better soon. The first 2 posters had a question about clips or staples. Yes, they probably are clamps. I had my gall bladder removed in 1986 with no complications. In 1993, I had an MRI due to back problems. They have to report everything they observe. They noticed the clamps from my gall bladder removal still intact. I never knew they were in there. You and your mom are in my prayers. Good luck, Mea
   — Mea A.

June 5, 2003
They are actually titanium clips. They clip on at the end of the cystic duct to close it off. Then they cut and remove the gallbladder. I didn't know that they use clips I thought it was sew up. When they went back in they did sew everything and remove all of the clips so this won't happen again. She is still in ICU and showing some positive signs. Thank you for all of the messages of encouragement and prayers.
   — Karen H.