What is cholecystectomy?
A cholecystectomy is a surgical removal of the gallbladder. The most common reason for removing the gallbladder is the presence of stones inside, which can be caused by diet and/or genetics. If the stones are not causing symptoms, then the gallbladder does not need to be removed. However, these stones often cause abdominal pain and nausea immediately after eating. If the pain is significant and you are healthy enough to have surgery, removal of the gallbladder may improve these symptoms. It is impossible to get rid of the stones without removing the gallbladder.
Sometimes the stones can leave the gallbladder and get stuck in the bile duct, causing a bile duct infection or inflammation of the pancreas. The stones can also get stuck leaving the gallbladder and cause a gallbladder infection. Removal of the gallbladder makes it less likely to have these problems. Less common reasons for cholecystectomy include gallbladder masses that are not stones and improper squeezing of the gallbladder, which causes pain.
Do I need my gallbladder?
Your gallbladder helps your body break down and store a substance called bile, which helps digest fats. While the gallbladder has a job in the digestion process, it’s not essential for your overall health. Your liver can still make bile and send it directly to your small intestine, so that you can digest fats even without a gallbladder.
Types of gallbladder surgery
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using long instruments through four small incisions. A camera is placed into the largest incision, and long instruments are used in the three other incisions to cut and remove the gallbladder through one of the incisions. The surgery usually takes about one hour.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using a surgical robot machine to move long instruments. Using the robot, the surgeon is able to perform the surgery with smaller movements and through smaller incisions with a magnified view.
Occasionally, a patient is not a candidate for laparoscopic or robotic surgery due to other health concerns. Other times, laparoscopic or robotic surgery cannot be safely completed, and the surgeon decides to make a bigger incision. In this case, one large incision is made on the right side of the abdomen following the contour of the rib cage. The surgery is then performed through that incision.
Recovery – What to Expect
Most patients that undergo a laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy are able to go home the day of surgery after they wake up. Patients that undergo an open cholecystectomy typically need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery for pain control.