Gallbladder surgery ( also known as cholecystectomy ), is the surgery done to remove the gallbladder when the gallstones cause symptoms of pain, etc. Gallbladder is the pear shaped organ which stores bile that helps to digest the food.
If the gallbladder does not function properly, it starts to form hard fragments known as gallstones. These gallstones, if not dissolve, start to cause pain and other symptoms. Around 80 percent of the patients with gallstones need gallbladder surgery.
The patient needs gallbladder surgery in the following conditions/symptoms -
The tests done before the gall bladder surgery are-
The patient is given general anesthesia and a tube is inserted in the throat to assist in breathing while the surgery is performed.
The 2 methods of gallbladder surgery are-
1. Open Gallbladder Surgery- In this method, a large 5-7 inch incision is made in the abdomen region to remove the entire gallbladder. This is done if the patient has a bleeding disorder, is overweight or is in the last trimester of pregnancy.
2. Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery- This is also known as keyhole surgery. Small cuts are made in the abdomen, a very thin flexible tube is inserted which has light attached and tiny video camera attached. Then small instruments are inserted to remove the gallbladder.