Cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal surgery, is a surgical procedure that removes the gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ located below the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. It collects and stores bile produced by the liver.

Gallbladder removal surgery is a common surgery that treats many types of gallbladder disease, including:

  • Gallstones (cholelithiasis)
  • Cholecystitis (inflammation)
  • Biliary dyskinesia
  • Gangrene
  • Gallbladder cancer
  • Cholangiopathy
  • Pancreatitis caused by gallstones
Gallstones removing in the Gallbladder. 3d illustration

The most common and recognizable symptom of gallbladder disease is biliary colic. It is a pattern of pain in your biliary tract in your upper right abdomen that occurs in episodes, often with nausea. Biliary colic is typically an early symptom of a biliary disease that can worsen. When your bile flow stalls completely, you’ll feel intense bladder pain that won’t go away until you get medical care. Other signs of possible gallbladder disease include:

  • Jaundice
  • A swollen abdomen that is tender to the touch
  • Large gallbladder polyps that were discovered on an ultrasound

If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, your healthcare provider will examine you and conduct the necessary tests to diagnose the cause. They will let you know if gallbladder surgery is recommended.

There are three types of gallbladder removal surgery, they include:

  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
  • Robotic cholecystectomy
  • Open cholecystectomy

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over other types of surgery, including:

  • Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images inside the abdomen and pelvis that create a clearer picture to reference as they operate.
  • Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
  • You’ll have a few tiny scars.
  • You’re more likely to experience less pain and less bleeding after surgery compared to open surgery.
  • A shorter hospital stay.

For more information about robotic surgery at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center or to learn more about other surgical options, please call (718) 206-7110 to make an appointment.