Surgery
Once the diagnosis of gallstones has been made your surgeon will then discuss the treatment options that are appropriate for you. The gold standard treatment is removal of your gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy).
Most people with symptomatic gallstones will require removal of their gallbladder. Although many people who have gallstones never see a doctor, once gallstone symptoms develop they are likely to recur until the gallbladder is removed.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
The operation Laparoscopic cholecystectomy or keyhole removal of gallbladder is the operation of choice. This involves 4 small incisions on the skin as shown and an operation that usually takes between 45 and 60 minutes. It is done under general anaesthetic and the abdomen is inflated allowing the surgeon to ...
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Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration
If stones are identified at surgery, then in some cases it is possible to remove the bile ducts with keyhole surgery. This avoids a further procedure (ERCP) after your surgery. Transcystic Duct Exploration If the on table cholangiogram demonstrates a stone in the bile duct, this can be removed ...
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Open cholecystectomy
Occasionally a gallbladder may be removed using a traditional ‘open’ technique with an incision under the right rib cage. This is performed on the rare occasion when a gallbladder cancer is suspected or during a laparoscopic procedure when important structures cannot be seen safely.
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Cholecystostomy
In a few patients that are medically unfit with a life threatening situation due to an inflamed gallbladder, it can be treated by the insertion of a drain into the gallbladder. This is done under X-Ray/ultrasound guidance using a local anaesthetic.
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Single port cholecystectomy
This procedure is performed through a large port that is placed through the belly button. It is a relatively new technique and the only benefit is that the scar is inside the belly button. The port site is bigger than a standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy and may be more painful.
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Complications
Whenever considering a surgical procedure it is necessary to thoroughly discuss associated risks. With cholecystectomy there are both minor and major complications. Minor complications The vast majority of people who have their gallbladder removed notice no change in their overall make-up apart from the fact that their pain has gone. ...
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