Is gastric sleeve operation suitable for someone who removed their gall bladder?

Question

I had removed a gallbladder since 2008, then i suffered from severe diarrhea regardless of the quality of the food which i had eaten. Now, I would like to subject to gastric sleeve opertation to loose over weight but i am worries about this operation will be suitable in my case as being without gallbladder and suffer from diarrhea. Please advice with many thanks

Ali Solmaz, MD · Answer

Yes, you can have gastric sleeve surgery even if you had your gallbladder removed. However, since you already experience chronic diarrhea, it’s important to consider how the procedure may affect your digestion.
One common issue after gallbladder removal is bile acid malabsorption (BAM), where bile constantly drips into the intestines, leading to diarrhea. This condition can often be managed with bile acid binders like cholestyramine. The gastric sleeve primarily affects the stomach rather than bile flow or absorption, so it generally should not make your diarrhea worse. However, dietary changes after surgery, such as a higher protein intake and reduced fat consumption, might impact your bowel habits.
Compared to gastric bypass, which can worsen diarrhea due to changes in bile absorption, the gastric sleeve is less likely to cause additional bowel issues. To prepare for surgery, it would be helpful to consult with both your bariatric surgeon and a gastroenterologist to address your diarrhea beforehand. Trying a bile acid binder before surgery could help determine whether it improves your symptoms. After surgery, monitoring your fat intake and making necessary dietary adjustments can also help keep your digestion stable.
Overall, gastric sleeve surgery is a suitable option for you, but managing bile-related diarrhea before and after the procedure is key to ensuring the best outcome.

Hasan Erdem, MD · Answer

Hi, the absence of your gall bladder does not prevent you from being operated. After the operation, 25% of the patients can develop stone due to rapid weight loss and insufficient water drinking in the gallbladder. But there isn’t risk of like this. You can operate safely and comfortably

H. Joseph Naim, MD, FACS · Answer

It happens that Gastric Sleeve is suitable for everyone! Even I would get it if could....
Unfortunately like any operation there are some risks associated with Gastric Sleeve. So most surgeons only operate on patients with BMI over 40 or BMI of 35-40 with a Medical comorbidity related to obesity!
So the presence or abscence of gallbladder or diarrhea is irrelevant.

Pablo Garcia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, I hope you are well and I am sorry to hear about your bowel issues. Having your gallbladder removed is by no means a contraindication to a gastric sleeve. In fact, these procedures are often performed at the same time. However, I would recommend you are further evaluated for your current symptoms as diarrhea following a gallbladder procedure is not expected to last such a long period of time. This would be ideal  before clearing you for bariatric surgery as, dehydration is one of the possible complications arising from this procedure. Hope this answer was useful. Do not hesitate to contact us iif anything else comes up.

Is gastric sleeve operation suitable for someone who removed their gall bladder?

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More Gastric Sleeve Surgery Questions

Going on holiday 3-4 months after gastric sleeve surgery - do you think I will be ok to travel?

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