How long does gallbladder surgery take?
On One Hand: Open Times Are ShorterOpen (traditional incision) and laparoscopic (minimally invasive) are the methods for performing gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy). Operating times for open cholecystectomy are definitively shorter. According to several large studies, laparoscopic times range from about 90 to 120 minutes, and open procedure times range from about 80 to 90 minutes.On the Other: Laparoscopy Is the StandardLaparoscopy has many advantages over open surgery, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), including smaller incisions, minimal post-operative pain, and faster recovery, discharge and return to daily activity. It is therefore preferred. Only a “small number of patients” require open surgery due to medical factors, SAGES reports.Bottom LineLaparoscopy’s advantages outweigh the longer operating times required for this type of surgery.
