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Procedures for Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder surgery is necessary in some cases when the bile duct becomes blocked or when a build up of gallstones has caused illness in the patient. In most cases, gallbladder surgery is not dangerous and only requires a day or two at the hospital.

  1. Laparascopy

    • The latest trend in gallbladder surgery is to use laparascopy to remove the gallbladder. This is where several small incisions are made in the abdomen and instruments are inserted through the holes into the abdominal cavity. The abdomen is filled with air to allow the doctor to have more of a visual field. Inserted into one of these instruments has a high-powered camera. The surgeon uses the camera to guide the tools that are then inserted through the other holes to cut and repair or remove the gallbladder. These tools will also cauterize bleeding vessels and do other procedures that may be needed in the abdomen during the surgery. The tools are then removed, the incisions closed, and the patient is monitored for 24 to 48 hours before being sent home to recover.

    Open Incision

    • In cases where the gallbladder has ruptured or other complications exist, the surgeon may need to do an open gallbladder surgery. This entails making a 5- to 7-inch incision on the right side of the patient's body, just under the ribs, and exposing the gallbladder and its surrounding organs. The surgeon will gently press down on the exposed organs to reveal the gallbladder. The gallbladder is then gently lifted out and any damage repaired. This surgery, particularly in the case of a ruptured gallbladder or torn bile ducts, can take some time as the abdominal cavity must be carefully cleaned to avoid an infection. The abdomen is usually flooded with an antibiotic liquid as a precaution. This surgery requires several days of recovery in the hospital.

    Cholangiogram

    • One procedure that may precede the actual gallbladder surgery is a cholangiogram. This is where a dye is injected via intravenously into the patient that enables doctors to view any gallstones within the bile ducts and the gallbladder itself. This can help the surgeon pinpoint exactly where he needs to go and cut down on exploratory time, as well as pinpoint any other problems that may be occurring within the liver and its surrounding bile ducts.

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