Gall Bladder Removal (Cholecystectomy)

What Is Cholecystectomy - Gall Bladder Removal Surgery?

Cholecystectomy or gall bladder removal surgery is necessary when the continued formation of gallstones puts the patient at risk for gall bladder disease.  The surgeon often performs the procedure as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy or LAPCHOL, which requires smaller incisions and heals faster than an open cholecystectomy.   

Patients should not eat or drink after midnight on the night before the gall bladder removal surgery.  Giving the patient general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen near the belly button and inserts a cannula (plastic tube).  The surgeon guides a laparascope connected to a camera into the cannula for a magnified view of the internal organs.  To separate the gallbladder from its attachments, the surgeon inserts more cannulas, removing the gall bladder altogether through one of the incisions.  The surgeon then examines the bile duct for gall stones using a cholangiogram X-ray.  If gallstones are found, the surgeon either removes them immediately or leaves them for removal in a follow-up procedure.  Upon removing the gall bladder and any gall stones, the surgeon stitches the incision shut or uses surgical tape.