Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. It involves making small incisions in the abdomen and inserting instruments through the cuts. A doctor may recommend the surgery if a person has gallstones that cause pain or health complications. Other conditions it can treat include inflammation of the gallbladder, biliary dyskinesia, and masses or polyps in the gallbladder.
How long does a laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery take?
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery typically takes around 45 to 60 minutes. A person will need to spend some time in a recovery room while the anesthesia wears off, but they can usually go home the same day of the procedure.
Is laparoscopic gallbladder removal a major surgery?
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a major surgery, as it involves the removal of an organ. However, the laparoscopic approach is minimally invasive. Surgeons perform this by making small incisions rather than the large cuts that are necessary for open cholecystectomy. According to a 2012 report that looked at 1,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by one surgeon over an 8-year period, the procedure has a 94.1% success rate. It is also the most common abdominal surgical procedure. Surgeons perform more than 750 ,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies in the United States each year and around 70,000 in the United Kingdom, according to a 2022 review.
How painful is laparoscopic gallbladder removal?
A person will receive general anesthesia before laparoscopic gallbladder removal, so they will not feel any pain during the procedure. They may experience some pain following surgery, but this should not be significant. One benefit of laparoscopic gallbladder removal is that there is generally less postoperative pain than with open surgery to remove the gallbladder. If a person does experience significant pain after the procedure, it is important to contact a doctor.
