Procedure guide · General and gastrointestinal surgery
Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is surgery to take out the gallbladder. It is usually done by keyhole surgery. MedlinePlus says the laparoscopic method is the most common way to remove the gallbladder. It is used for pain or other symptoms from gallstones. People can live without a gallbladder because bile still reaches the intestine.
What is gallbladder removal?
The gallbladder stores bile made by the liver. MedlinePlus describes laparoscopic removal through three or four small cuts using a thin lighted tube called a laparoscope. Gas is pumped into the abdomen to give the surgeon room. It is done under general anaesthesia. An X-ray of the bile ducts, called a cholangiogram, may be done during surgery to check for stones. If the gallbladder cannot be removed safely this way, the surgeon may switch to open surgery with a larger cut.
MedlinePlus Gallbladder Diseases notes that many gallbladder problems get better with removal. People can live without a gallbladder because bile reaches the small intestine by other routes.
Who may be suitable for gallbladder removal?
MedlinePlus says surgery is done for pain or other symptoms caused by gallstones, or a gallbladder that is not working normally. Symptoms include indigestion, nausea and vomiting and pain after eating, usually in the upper right or upper middle abdomen. Gallstones found by chance without symptoms do not always need surgery. A surgeon decides after reviewing your symptoms and scans.
Fever, jaundice or severe pain
Inflammation of the gallbladder or a stone blocking the bile duct can need urgent treatment. If you have fever, yellowing of the skin or severe ongoing pain, seek local care before thinking about travel.
What tests are usually done first?
MedlinePlus lists tests before surgery. They may include blood tests such as a full blood count, electrolytes and kidney tests, an ultrasound of the gallbladder and sometimes a CT scan. Some people need a chest X-ray or ECG. Before travel, share:
- Abdominal ultrasound reports and images showing the gallstones
- Liver function tests, which help show whether a stone may be in the bile duct
- Any CT, MRI or MRCP reports
- Notes of earlier attacks, hospital admissions or ERCP
- Health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease
- A full list of medicines, including blood thinners
If a stone may be in the bile duct, the team may advise ERCP before or alongside surgery. Ask about this when reviewing the plan.
How should you plan the trip?
- Consultation and pre-operative tests in India
- Laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia
- Discharge: MedlinePlus says most people go home the same day or the next day once they can drink and manage pain with tablets
- Wound check and any results from removed tissue
- Before flying: ask your surgeon when it is safe for you to fly
- Home: diet advice and a check with your own doctor
MedlinePlus notes that a longer stay may be needed if there is bleeding, significant pain, fever or a problem during surgery. Plan some flexibility in your return date. An attendant is helpful for the first days.
What should you ask the surgeon?
- Is surgery needed now, or could it wait?
- Do you think a stone is in my bile duct, and how would you check?
- What would make you convert to open surgery?
- When can I eat normally, and what diet do you advise afterwards?
- Will the removed gallbladder be examined in the laboratory?
- When is it safe for me to fly?
IndiaMedica helps you share reports and compare written plans. The treating surgeon decides what is suitable.
Questions people ask
What are the risks of gallbladder removal?
MedlinePlus lists general risks such as bleeding, infection and blood clots. Specific risks include injury to the common bile duct, damage to blood vessels supplying the liver, injury to the intestine and pancreatitis. Your surgeon will explain your own risks before consent.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
MedlinePlus explains that people can live without a gallbladder because bile reaches the small intestine by other routes. Some people notice changes in digestion afterwards. Ask your surgeon or doctor for diet advice after surgery.
Will I definitely have keyhole surgery?
Most gallbladders are removed laparoscopically, according to MedlinePlus. If the gallbladder cannot be removed safely this way, the surgeon may switch to open surgery with a larger cut. That can mean a longer stay, so allow flexibility in your plans.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.