Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder surgery, otherwise known as a cholecystectomy, removes the gallbladder. This procedure is necessary to treat blockage and other infections that cause gallbladder disease. Most commonly, it's used to get rid of gallstones which is the buildup of excess bile in the gallbladder.

Anesthesia is administered before the procedure so the patient is not awake. Gallbladder surgery can be performed using two different methods: laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open cholecystectomy. With laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon inserts a small camera into the abdomen through tiny incisions and removes the gallbladder with small instruments. The doctor might opt for an open cholecystectomy if the laparoscopic method has too many risks or if there is unexpected bleeding during the laparoscopic procedure. With open cholecystectomy, the surgeon opts to make a larger incision, moving muscles and tissue out of the way to reach the gallbladder and removing it that way.

The gastroenterology team at Schneck Medical Center can identify illnesses that affect the gallbladder and swiftly treat them before they progress. Trust our surgeons to provide long-term solutions.