How is a Cholecystectomy Performed?
• For a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes 3 to 5 tiny incisions in the abdomen and inserts surgical instruments and a miniature camera. The camera sends an image from inside the body to a video monitor. While watching the monitor, the surgeon separates the gallbladder from the other structures and removes it through one of the small incisions. The operation usually takes about 1 hours. • Sometimes the surgeon may encounter obstacles to the laparoscopic procedure, such as inflammation, abnormal anatomy, or scarring from other operations. At this point, an open surgery may be necessary. An open surgery requires a 5 to 8 inch incision to remove the gallbladder. It is a major surgery and may require a 2 to 7 day stay in the hospital and several more weeks at home to recover. In some cases obstacles are known before surgery, and an open procedure is planned. Open surgery is required in about 5 percent of gallbladder operations.
