Gallstones
Keyhole removal of the gallbladder, the definitive treatment for symptomatic gallstones.
Your surgeon: Stefanos Lazaridis MD, FRCS, Director, 11th Surgical Clinic for Obesity & Reflux, Metropolitan General, Athens · formerly NHS Consultant in Upper GI & Bariatric Surgery, London
Short answer
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder by keyhole surgery. It is the standard treatment for gallstones that cause pain or complications. The operation takes about an hour and is done as a day case, so you go home the same day. Recovery is quick, and most people return to normal activity within a week or two.
How it is done
The operation is done under general anaesthesia through three or four small incisions. The duct and artery of the gallbladder are identified carefully, clipped and divided, and the gallbladder is removed through one of the incisions.
Careful identification of the anatomy is the most important safety step, because it protects the main bile duct.
Recovery
You can drink and eat light food the same day. There is no special long-term diet.
Walking straight away. Most people return to office work within one to two weeks.
Usually mild. Some shoulder-tip pain from the gas used during surgery is common for a day or two.
Risks
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common and safest operations in general surgery. Possible complications include bleeding, infection, bile leak and, rarely, injury to the bile duct. Occasionally the operation needs to be converted to open surgery, usually because of severe inflammation.
Questions
It is a day-case operation: you go home the same day.
No special diet is needed. A few people tolerate very fatty meals less well for some weeks.
It is usually removed by endoscopy (ERCP) before or after the operation.
Next step
Send us your details and your ultrasound report, and I will contact you.