The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores a digestive fluid called the bile. If the gallbladder stops functioning efficiently, hard fragments are formed and these are called gallstones. These stones can grow to be as small as a grain of sand to as big as that of a golf ball in extreme cases.
Gallstones do not go away on their own, and in certain instances, the doctor may suggest surgically removing the gallbladder. This procedure is called the cholecystectomy.
Why Is Cholecystectomy Done?
Cholecystectomy surgery is recommended when a patient experiences the following symptoms:
Pancreatic inflammation due to gallstones
Cholelithiasis - Gallstones in the gallbladder
Choledocholithiasis - Gallstones in the bile duct
Cholecystitis - Gallbladder inflammation
What Are The Different Types Of Gallbladder Surgeries?
A gallbladder can be removed in two ways based on the surgeon’s recommendation:
Open surgery – Patients with bleeding disorders usually require open surgery. For this procedure, the surgeon would make incisions that are 5 to 7 inches long near the belly. To get a better view of the liver and gallbladder, the surgeon will pull back the muscle and tissue, and then surgically removes the gall bladder. Other patients who may require gallbladder removal are obese individuals, patients with gallbladder disease and women going through their last trimester of pregnancy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy – This surgical procedure does not require large incisions in the belly. Instead, four small cuts are made and a very thin flexible tube containing a video camera is inserted into the belly. The tiny camera gives a better view of the gallbladder. The surgeon is able to view the camera feed on a monitor, and surgical instruments are inserted through other incisions to remove the gallbladder. If there is a possibility of gallstones, the surgeon will recommend an X-ray or ultrasound scans to confirm the presence of gallstones. Laparoscopic procedures generally take one or two hours and are also called “keyhole surgery”.
