Gallbladder Treatment

Gall bladder surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a procedure to remove the gall bladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. The gall bladder stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps digest fats. Surgery is usually necessary if a person has issues like gallstones (hardened deposits of digestive fluid), inflammation, or infection, which can cause pain, digestive issues, or more serious complications.

Types of Gall Bladder Surgery:

1. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: This is the most common and minimally invasive approach. Surgeons make a few small incisions, insert a tiny camera and instruments, and remove the gall bladder through these incisions. Recovery is typically quicker, with less pain and a shorter hospital stay.

2. Open Cholecystectomy: In cases where laparoscopic surgery isn’t suitable, an open cholecystectomy may be performed. This requires a larger incision in the abdomen. Recovery time is longer, and patients usually stay in the hospital for a few days.

Why It’s Done

The surgery is most commonly recommended for:

• Gallstones causing pain or inflammation (cholecystitis)
• Gallstones blocking the bile duct or pancreas
• Gall bladder polyps or tumors

Recovery and Life After Surgery

Most people can live normally without a gall bladder. Post-surgery, some may have mild digestive issues, like bloating, particularly when eating fatty foods, but these often improve over time.