She Put Off Her Gallstone Surgery for Years. Here's What Happened at the Hospital

Maria, a 59-year-old patient, had known for several years that she had gallstones and had been advised to undergo surgery. Out of fear, she repeatedly postponed the procedure. Biliary colic pain would typically appear after heavier meals, and medication would temporarily ease her symptoms, giving her the impression that she could keep the situation under control.

Everything changed when she was at Spitalul Clinic SANADOR to collect her husband following his discharge, after he had undergone surgery for prostate cancer. Amid the stress and a particularly heavy meal, the pain in her upper abdomen suddenly intensified and no longer responded to her usual treatment. Because she wanted to stay close to her husband and trusted the medical team that had cared for him, Maria presented herself to the hospital's Emergency Department.

Diagnosis established on an emergency basis

The patient was examined by Dr. Eliza Gangone, a consultant general surgeon. Following a clinical assessment, emergency laboratory tests, and an abdominal ultrasound, the doctors established a diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis, with a pericholecystic plastron and intestinal subocclusion. The investigations revealed vesicular hydrops caused by a large gallstone blocking the cystic duct and preventing the gallbladder from emptying, alongside extensive inflammation of the surrounding tissues and partial impairment of intestinal transit.

Dr. Gangone recommended surgery from the outset, explaining that intravenous treatment might temporarily relieve the symptoms without addressing the underlying cause. Nevertheless, Maria chose to go home and postpone the procedure.

Emergency return and surgery

A few hours after discharge, the pain became unbearable, and nausea combined with an inability to eat led her to return to Spitalul Clinic SANADOR, having decided to accept surgery. The medical team acted immediately, and Dr. Eliza Gangone performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, supplemented by viscerolysis to remove the adhesions that had formed as a result of the inflammation.

Due to the severe inflammation and adhesions, there was a risk that the procedure might require conversion to open surgery. In Maria's case, however, the intraoperative findings and the medical team's experience allowed the operation to be completed using a minimally invasive approach, without complications.

Swift recovery

Maria was up and out of bed just a few hours after surgery, and was discharged three days later. She quickly resumed her daily activities, and nearly a year on from the procedure she is free of abdominal pain, adhering to her medical team's recommendations regarding diet and lifestyle. She noted that Dr. Eliza Gangone personally monitored the progress of her postoperative wounds, which gave her confidence during a difficult time.

Medical emergencies at Spitalul Clinic SANADOR

The Emergency Department at Spitalul Clinic SANADOR is the only one in Romania's private healthcare sector that operates around the clock with 26 on-call lines, including general surgery and intensive care. Patients benefit from rapid assessment through specialist consultations, laboratory tests, and advanced diagnostic imaging. Where surgical intervention is required, it is carried out in a fully equipped operating theatre, supported by a Category I Intensive Care Unit, via open, laparoscopic, or robotic approaches depending on the specifics of each case. Emergency services are provided on a fee-paying basis.