Gall bladder removal

What is it?

The gall bladder is a small pear shaped organ which sits underneath the liver. Its function is to concentrate bile which helps to break down fats in the diet. Gallstones are small stones, commonly of cholesterol, that form in the gall bladder and usually do not cause any symptoms. When they do cause symptoms, these can include acute pain, fever and sometimes jaundice (the skin and white of the eye appear yellow as a result of high levels of bilirubin in the body). Bilirubin is a substance that is normally removed in the bile.

If the gallstones do not produce symptoms, or only cause occasional pain, then they are usually best left alone. If symptoms are more severe or are occurring frequently, then surgery is recommended to remove the gall bladder.

The operation to remove the gall bladder can be undertaken in two ways, usually laparoscopically (keyhole) or through the more traditional open surgery. The surgeon will decide depending on the clinical circumstances, whether one method is preferable to the other. Whilst the gall bladder is a useful organ, it is not essential and individuals have no noticeable long terms effects from no longer having a gall bladder.

Recommended recovery times

The evidence shows that return to non-manual office duty is usually possible after around:

2 weeks following keyhole surgery

4 weeks following open (abdominal) surgery

The evidence shows that return to manual work is usually possible after around:

4-6 weeks following keyhole surgery

4-12 weeks following open (abdominal) surgery

Rehabilitation plan

The individual does not require a note from their GP or other doctor to confirm that they are fit before they can return to work. Office workers should be able to return to full duties without the need for a rehabilitation plan. A suitable rehabilitation plan for a manual worker can be found on the page below.

Once recovered there are no medical barriers to driving following successful removal of a gall bladder.

There should be a review at the end of each week by the line manager to ensure that the employee is coping with the return to work and that they feel able to increase their hours and work activities in line with the above advice. There should be some flexibility within the recommendations as an individual may require more than one week at any particular level of the rehabilitation plan.

Referral to occupational health

Employees should be referred to Occupational Health if:

They do not return to work after 6 weeks following laparoscopic surgery

They do not return to work after 8 weeks following open surgery

They have not returned to full duties after six weeks of commencing a rehabilitation plan

Particular circumstances, such as other ongoing heath conditions are delaying recovery

What do I need to do as the manager?

An employee can be absent from the workplace for a number of weeks following a Cholecystectomy. It is important that the line manager stays in regular contact with the employee during their absence. This regular contact will enable a referral to Occupational Health to be made if there is no indication of a return to work within the expected timeframe and will also enable the manager to keep the employee up to date with changes in the workplace.

Points to remember

Fit notes

If an employee produces a fit note indicating that they require modified duties, discuss this with them and consider if the modification recommended can be reasonably accommodated.

Job tasks and risk assessments

Review the risk assessment for the employee’s job role and work tasks including the ability to drive safely where required. Take into consideration any temporary modification that may be required to accommodate their reduced ability to undertake certain tasks.

General guidance

If you require further information, refer to the general advice on managing attendance.