Post Operation
Postoperative Care for Choledochal Cyst Surgery
After the operation, you or your child will be moved to the recovery room, where you will be closely monitored until you are awake and comfortable. You will then be transferred to a hospital room for further observation and care.
During the initial postoperative period, you or your child will receive intravenous (IV) fluids until you can tolerate clear liquids without experiencing nausea or vomiting. The healthcare team will gradually reintroduce a regular diet as tolerated. You or your child may be given antibiotics through an IV to prevent infection, and pain medication will be administered either through the IV or orally once you can eat.
Encourage yourself or your child to get out of bed and walk around soon after surgery, as this helps relieve gas pain and promotes faster healing. The length of the hospital stay will depend on the type of surgery performed. If the procedure was done laparoscopically, you or your child might be discharged in approximately 3 to 5 days. However, a longer hospital stay may be necessary following an open excision.
The surgeon and care team will discuss your or your child’s recovery process, including potential risks and complications to watch for, such as:
- Bile leak
- Cholangitis
- Bleeding
- Strictures (narrowing of the bile duct)
- Wound infection
- Intrahepatic biliary stone formation
While choledochal cyst removal will reduce the risk of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), you or your child will still be at higher risk of developing cancer in the remaining bile ducts inside the liver compared to the general population. There is also a risk of narrowing in the reconstructed bile duct. Continued yearly follow-up with a gastroenterologist or your pediatric surgeon is recommended to monitor for these complications. You or your child may require ongoing blood work and imaging at regular intervals.
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