Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder Removal

The gall bladder is not a vital organ, so the body copes quite well without it. Cholecystectomy, or surgical removal of the gall bladder, is therefore recommended if gallstones (or other types of gall bladder disease) are causing problems.

Surgical techniques

Techniques to remove the gall bladder include:

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy - or ‘keyhole’ surgery. A number of small incisions are made through the skin, allowing access to a range of instruments. The gall bladder is removed through one of the incisions.
• Open surgery (laparotomy) - the gall bladder is accessed through a wider abdominal incision. Some of the factors that may predispose a patient to open surgery include scarring from prior operations and bleeding disorders.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The general procedure includes:

• A number of small abdominal incisions are made, allowing slender instruments access to the abdominal cavity.
• A tube blowing a gentle stream of carbon dioxide gas is inserted. This is to separate the abdominal wall from the underlying organs.
• The gall bladder is viewed on a TV monitor by the surgeon using a tiny TV camera attached to the laparoscope.
• Special x-rays (cholangiograms) during the operation can check for gallstones wedged within the bile ducts.
• The ducts and artery which service the gall bladder are clipped shut. These clips are permanent.
• The gall bladder is cut free using either laser or electrocautery.
• The gall bladder, along with its load of gallstones, is pulled out of the body through one of the abdominal incisions.
• The instruments and the carbon dioxide gas are removed from the abdominal cavity. The incisions are sutured and covered with dressings.

Open gallbladder surgery

The general procedure is the same as for laparoscopic surgery, except the gall bladder is accessed via a large, single incision in the abdominal wall. Sometimes, an operation that starts out as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy turns into open surgery if the surgeon encounters unexpected difficulties, such as not being able to properly see the gall bladder.