Illustration of a patient and clinician reviewing a checklist before surgery.

Preparing for planned gallbladder removal starts with an agreed plan: why surgery is needed, which tests are necessary for you, how to take your regular medicines and who will help after discharge. This checklist will help you prepare for a discussion with your surgeon and anaesthetist. The team carrying out your operation will give the final instructions, taking your health and the type of procedure into account.

If you need urgent surgery for an acute illness, preparation follows a different process in hospital. Do not delay emergency care to work through the checklist below on your own.

First, clarify the purpose of surgery and the next steps

At your consultation, ask which symptoms or complications led to the recommendation for cholecystectomy, what the treatment is expected to achieve and whether your bile ducts need to be checked beforehand. If some of your symptoms may have another cause, discuss this before surgery. This will help keep your expectations of the procedure realistic.

What procedure is planned, and what alternatives are available in my situation?
Are stones in the common bile duct suspected?
When will I be assessed by an anaesthetist, and how should I send them my records?
What are the criteria for discharge, and whom should I call if my condition changes before admission?

You can read more about the procedure itself in our article on laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Here, we will focus on practical preparation.

Gather your records and health information

Bring the report and, if available, images from your latest ultrasound, previous test results, hospital discharge summaries and a list of operations you have had. You do not need to repeat every investigation on your own: show your existing results to the doctor first. It is useful to make a separate note of the dates of attacks, how long they lasted, any fever or jaundice and the treatment you have already received.

Your anaesthetist needs to know about allergies and the specific reaction to a medicine, problems with previous anaesthesia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, blood clots and bleeding. Tell them about loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, use of a CPAP machine and any possibility of pregnancy. Also tell them about smoking, alcohol or use of other substances: this information is needed to plan your anaesthesia safely.

Get a personalised list of tests

There is no single set of tests that every patient needs. The list depends on the operation, other health conditions, symptoms, medicines and the findings of your initial assessment. According to NICE guidance on preoperative tests, even familiar investigations such as a chest X-ray or an echocardiogram are not automatically arranged for everyone before planned surgery.

Ask which tests you need, when to have them, how recent the results must be for your admission and who will review them. Liver blood tests or further assessment of the bile ducts may be needed to clarify the findings in gallstone disease. This is separate from the overall assessment of your fitness for anaesthesia. Read about the uses and limitations of ultrasound in our article on gallbladder ultrasound.

Ask for a written plan for each medicine

Prepare a list of everything you take: the name, dose, time of day and reason it was prescribed. Include injections, over-the-counter painkillers, vitamins and herbal supplements. Photographs of the packaging can help if the names are difficult to remember. If necessary, your surgeon and anaesthetist will agree the plan with the doctor who prescribed your treatment.

Medicine groups you should always discuss

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines, including medicines taken after a coronary stent has been fitted. Both the risk of bleeding and the risk of blood clots when treatment is changed matter.
Insulin and other diabetes medicines. You need a plan for the period when food intake is restricted, for monitoring blood glucose and for returning to your usual treatment.
SGLT2 inhibitors, which may also be prescribed for heart failure or kidney disease. The team must take into account the risk of ketoacidosis, a dangerous build-up of ketones in the blood, around the time of surgery.
Medicines for high blood pressure and heart disease, diuretics, steroid medicines, anti-seizure medicines and medicines for mental health conditions.
Painkillers and supplements, even if you consider them “ordinary” or “natural”.

For each medicine, write down the answers to four questions: should you continue taking it or make a temporary change; when should you take the last dose if a change is needed; what should you do on the morning of surgery; and when and under what conditions should you restart treatment? If different doctors have given conflicting instructions, ask them to agree a plan before the day of admission. Do not choose a regimen yourself.

Semaglutide, tirzepatide and similar medicines

Tell the team if you take GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medicines for diabetes or weight management. These can slow stomach emptying, which matters for anaesthesia. Multi-society guidance published by the ASA allows many patients to continue GLP-1 medicines, but the decision depends on their risk.

It is especially important to mention recently starting treatment, a dose increase, nausea, vomiting, significant bloating or constipation. The team may change your dietary preparation or anaesthetic plan, and may sometimes postpone planned surgery. A blanket instruction to “stop the injection a week beforehand” does not replace this assessment. Do not skip a dose or restart treatment after a break on your own.

Clarify the rules for eating and drinking

Get precise written instructions: when you must stop eating, which fluids you may drink and when you must stop drinking. Ask separately whether you may take your approved morning medicines with a small sip of water. Instructions may differ depending on the time of surgery, diabetes, symptoms and the risk of food remaining in your stomach.

Do not fast for longer “just to be safe”, and do not replace your instructions with advice from the internet. If you accidentally eat or drink after the specified time, tell the medical team immediately what you had and when. A safe decision about anaesthesia depends on this information.

Plan for admission day and help at home

Confirm the address, arrival time, required documents and ward contact details.
Arrange for someone to collect you after discharge and help at home initially. You must not drive yourself after general anaesthesia.
Bring your medicine list, any medical devices you need and the items on the hospital’s checklist.
Discuss time off work and help with children, shopping or physical tasks in advance.
Before discharge, obtain a plan for pain relief, wound care and restarting medicines, along with contact details for any questions.

General recovery questions are covered separately in our article on life after gallbladder removal.

When to report a change in your condition

Before admission, contact the team if you develop a new cold, cough, fever or vomiting, if your medicines change, or if you are admitted to another hospital. Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, especially with fever, jaundice or repeated vomiting. Do not wait for your scheduled operation date.

To discuss preparation for gallbladder removal and book a consultation, call +38 (095) 356-64-12. Bring your test results and medicine list to the consultation.

Sources

This article is for information only. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will determine your individual preparation plan.

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