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Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)

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What is a Cholecystectomy?

A cholecystectomy is a surgery to remove your gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ under your liver, on the upper right side of the abdomen. It is responsible for storing bile, a digestive fluid, that is made in the liver.

There are two types of surgery to remove the gallbladder:

Open (traditional) — The gallbladder is removed through a 4 to 6 inches long in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen.
Laparoscopic — The gallbladder is removed through one of 3 to 4 very small incisions. The provider uses a long, thin tube called a laparoscope for guidance.

Why Do I Need My Gallbladder Removed?

A cholecystectomy may be done if your gallbladder:

Has lumps of solid material (gallstones)
Is red or swollen (inflamed) or infected (cholecystitis)
Is cancerous

Your UR Medicine healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a cholecystectomy.

What Are the Risks of a Cholecystectomy?

Some possible complications of a cholecystectomy may include:

Bleeding
Infection
Injury to the tube (bile duct) that carries bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine
Liver injury
Scars and a numb feeling at the incision site
Hernia at the incision site

You may have other risks that are unique to you. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.

UR Medicine's Approach

We offer state-of-the-art surgical services provided by nationally known physicians with the most experience and training in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.

UR Medicine offers the latest in minimally-invasive robotic surgery: the da Vinci® Surgical System. This leading-edge technology enhances your surgeon’s precision, dexterity, and control while requiring only one- to two-centimeter incisions, meaning a faster recovery and return to daily activities. This gold-standard robotic-assisted surgical system is available across UR Medicine hospitals, including St. James Hospital, Jones Memorial Hospital, F.F. Thompson Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital.

You will see many different people from the surgical team during your hospital stay. Your providers will work together to manage your condition and help you get back to regular life.

What Is Recovery Like for a Cholecystectomy?

Your recovery process will depend on the type of surgery and the type of anesthesia you had.

After surgery, you may have a thin plastic tube that goes through your nose into your stomach. This is to remove air that you swallow. The tube will be taken out when your bowels are working normally. You won’t be able to eat or drink until the tube is removed.

The incision and your abdominal muscles may ache, especially after long periods of standing. Walking and limited movement are okay, but you should avoid strenuous activity. Your health care provider will tell you when you can return to work and go back to normal activities.

If you had a laparoscopic surgery, you may feel pain from any carbon dioxide gas still in your belly. This pain may last for a few days. It should feel a bit better each day.

Take a pain reliever as recommended by your healthcare provider. Aspirin or other pain medicines may raise your risk of bleeding. Be sure to take only medicines your healthcare provider has approved.

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

Fever or chills
Redness, swelling, bleeding, or other drainage from the incision site
More pain around the incision site
Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
Belly or abdominal pain, cramping, or swelling
No bowel movement or gas for 3 days
Pain behind your breastbone

What Sets Us Apart?

With an unrelenting focus on our patients, the UR Medicine Department of Surgery provides extraordinary surgical care. We create new knowledge through research and develop future surgeons, researchers, and leaders across a broad range of specialized areas. Our vast general surgical team extends to affiliated hospitals in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.

Our Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology provides leading-edge care in a collaborative way, bringing together experienced physicians from related disciplines to treat your condition from every angle.

We combine the most advanced subspecialty expertise with cutting edge technology, like the gold-standard da Vinci surgical system, with an emphasis on access and quality.

Through our active role in clinical trials, we are helping our patients have access to the most promising new treatments today.