Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery (Cholecystectomy)
Keyhole removal of a gallbladder that is causing pain, infection or other trouble from gallstones — through three or four small cuts, under general anaesthesia, with most patients eating the same day and going home within a day or two.
45–90 minutes
1–2 days (planned)
General, you are asleep
About 1 week
Overview
Perhaps it started as a heavy, gripping pain under the right ribs after a rich meal, which went away by morning. Then it came back, and an ultrasound showed “multiple gallstones”. Or a family member was admitted with fever, vomiting and yellow eyes, and the doctors said the gallbladder must come out. Either way, it helps to understand what the operation involves.
The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores bile, a digestive juice. Gallstones form when bile hardens into small pebbles or sludge. Many people have stones that never cause trouble, but once they cause pain or infection, attacks tend to keep coming back and can lead to serious problems such as an inflamed gallbladder, jaundice or pancreatitis.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy — keyhole gallbladder removal — is the standard treatment for gallstones that cause symptoms. The surgeon works through three or four small cuts using a camera and fine instruments, and removes the whole gallbladder with the stones inside it. Removing only the stones is not done, because a diseased gallbladder simply forms new ones. Bile continues to flow from the liver straight into the intestine, so digestion carries on normally for almost everyone.
At SKS Hospital, gallbladder surgery is carried out by our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team, with anaesthesia, ICU, blood bank and 24×7 emergency support on the same campus. If stones have also slipped into the main bile duct, we coordinate with our gastroenterology colleagues so that the duct is cleared safely before or after the operation.
Why it's done
Surgery is usually advised once gallstones have started to cause symptoms or complications, because further attacks are likely. Common reasons include:
- Repeated attacks of pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen, often after meals or at night
- An inflamed, infected gallbladder (acute cholecystitis), usually treated in the same admission when it is safe
- Pancreatitis caused by gallstones, to prevent another, possibly more severe, attack
- Jaundice or bile duct infection from a stone that has slipped into the bile duct, once the duct has been cleared
- Gallbladder polyps of around 10 mm or more, polyps that are growing, or polyps with stones
- A thick-walled or calcified gallbladder, or very large stones, where the surgeon advises removal after review
Is it right for you?
Usually a good fit
- Gallstones confirmed on ultrasound with typical pain or a past attack of inflammation
- Fit enough for general anaesthesia after routine tests and, where needed, a physician’s review
- No major previous upper abdominal surgery, or scarring that the surgeon can work around safely
- Recovered from pancreatitis or jaundice, with the bile duct clear of stones
May not be suitable
- Stones found by chance that have never caused symptoms — usually watched rather than removed, unless there is a specific reason
- Severe heart or lung disease that makes general anaesthesia risky, until specialists have assessed you
- A very sick patient with a badly infected gallbladder, where a temporary drain may be safer first
- Uncontrolled diabetes, fever or a chest infection before a planned operation, until treated
Types and techniques
Standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy
The usual operation, done through one cut of about 1 cm at the navel and two or three smaller cuts of 5–10 mm in the upper abdomen. Most planned operations are completed this way, with a short stay and little visible scarring.
Early surgery for an inflamed gallbladder
When the gallbladder is acutely inflamed, operating within the first few days of the same admission is generally safer than waiting and being readmitted. If the patient comes late or is too unwell, antibiotics are given first and surgery is planned after the inflammation settles, often around six weeks later.
Surgery combined with bile duct clearance
If blood tests or an MRCP scan show a stone in the main bile duct, it is usually removed first by ERCP — an endoscopy through the mouth — and the gallbladder is removed afterwards, often in the same admission. Your surgeon will explain the sequence that is safest for you.
Open or converted surgery
In a small number of patients, dense scarring, severe inflammation, bleeding or unclear anatomy make keyhole surgery unsafe. The surgeon then switches to a larger cut under the right ribs. This is a safety decision, not a failure, and it lengthens recovery by a few weeks.
Preparing for the procedure
- An abdominal ultrasound, blood tests for blood count, liver function, sugar, kidney function and clotting, and an ECG; a chest X-ray or heart check if your age or health needs it
- An MRCP scan or other tests if there is jaundice, abnormal liver tests or a widened bile duct on ultrasound
- Do not eat for about 6 hours before surgery; we will tell you when to stop water and which morning medicines to take with a sip
- Blood thinners such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or newer anticoagulants may need pausing — only on the advice of your surgeon and the doctor who prescribed them
- Keep diabetes and blood pressure well controlled in the weeks before surgery, and tell us about any allergy, heart, lung or kidney problem
- Bring your ultrasound and previous reports, your list of medicines and loose, comfortable clothes; arrange for a family member to stay and take you home
The procedure, step by step
Anaesthesia and getting ready
In the operation theatre, the anaesthetist places an IV drip and monitors, and you are put fully to sleep with general anaesthesia. A breathing tube is placed after you are asleep, so you feel and remember nothing of the operation.
Creating the working space
A small cut is made at the navel and the abdomen is gently filled with carbon dioxide gas, which lifts the abdominal wall and gives the surgeon room to work. A thin camera shows the inside on a screen, and two or three more small ports are placed in the upper abdomen.
Removing the gallbladder
The surgeon carefully identifies the small duct and artery that connect the gallbladder, confirming the anatomy before anything is divided. These are sealed with clips and cut, the gallbladder is freed from the underside of the liver, and it is removed in a protective bag through the navel cut.
Checking and closing
The area is checked for bleeding or bile leakage, the gas is let out and the small cuts are closed with stitches or skin glue. A thin drain is occasionally left for a day. The whole operation usually takes 45–90 minutes, and the gallbladder is sent to the laboratory for examination.
Benefits and risks
Benefits
- Ends gallstone attacks for most patients, since the source of the stones is removed
- Prevents complications such as an infected gallbladder, jaundice and gallstone pancreatitis
- Small cuts mean less pain, fewer wound problems and barely visible scars compared with open surgery
- Most patients go home in 1–2 days and return to desk work in about a week
Possible risks
- Shoulder-tip pain and bloating from the gas for a day or two, and minor bruising or infection at the small cuts
- Switching to open surgery in a small proportion of planned operations — more often after repeated attacks or severe inflammation
- A bile leak from the liver bed or the clipped duct in around 1 in 100 patients, usually managed with a drain or an ERCP procedure
- Injury to the main bile duct — uncommon, in the region of 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 operations — which may need a further procedure or specialist surgery
- Loose stools after fatty meals for a few weeks in some people, a stone left behind in the bile duct, and the general risks of anaesthesia and blood clots
Recovery timeline
Day of surgery
You wake up in the recovery area with mild pain at the cuts and sometimes an ache in the shoulder from the gas. Sips of water are started within a few hours, then a light meal. Nurses help you walk the same evening, which speeds recovery and lowers the risk of clots.
Day 1 to 2
Most patients go home the next day once they are eating, passing urine and comfortable on tablets. After surgery for an inflamed gallbladder, or if a drain was placed, the stay may be a little longer. We explain wound care, medicines and the review date before discharge.
The first week
Walk a little more each day. Keep the dressings dry and follow our advice on bathing. Eat light, home-cooked, low-fat meals for the first few weeks and add other foods gradually. Most desk workers return in about a week; ask before driving or riding a two-wheeler, usually once you can brake hard without pain.
Weeks 2 to 4 and beyond
Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous work for about 2–4 weeks after keyhole surgery, and longer after open surgery. Attend the review visit, usually around 7–10 days, where stitches are checked and the laboratory report on the gallbladder is discussed. Most people return to a normal diet within a month.
When to call your doctor
- Fever with chills, or pain in the abdomen that is getting worse rather than better
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pale, clay-coloured stools
- Repeated vomiting, a swollen, tight abdomen or being unable to eat and drink
- Redness, swelling, pus or bleeding from any of the cuts
- Pain or swelling in the calf, breathlessness or chest pain
Call us on +91 86799 11029 or come straight to our 24×7 emergency department.
Alternatives
Watchful waiting
Gallstones found by chance that have never caused pain are usually left alone, with advice on which symptoms should prompt a visit. Once stones start causing attacks, waiting mainly delays surgery and risks an emergency admission.
Medicines to dissolve stones
Tablets such as ursodeoxycholic acid can slowly dissolve some small cholesterol stones in a working gallbladder. They take many months, work in only a minority of patients, and stones often return after stopping, so they are reserved for people who cannot have surgery.
ERCP or a gallbladder drain
For elderly or very ill patients, an ERCP can clear stones from the bile duct, or a thin tube can be placed through the skin to drain an infected gallbladder. These relieve the emergency, and surgery can be considered later once the patient is stronger.
This page explains Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery (Cholecystectomy) in general terms. Your doctor will advise what is right for you after examining you and reviewing your reports. Please read our medical disclaimer.
Ask about your options, the cost and your insurance before you decide. We are empanelled with major insurers and TPAs.
Your care team
General & Laparoscopic Surgery Department
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery at SKS Hospital is carried out by our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team with experienced anaesthetists and theatre staff, supported by ICU, radiology, blood bank and a 24×7 emergency department on the same campus on NH-19 (old NH-2), Chaumuhan.
From the first OPD visit and ultrasound to the operation, discharge and review, the same team looks after you — and explains each step, the likely stay and the recovery plan to you and your family.
Other departments involved
Related procedures
Hernia Repair
Open or keyhole repair of a groin, navel or incision hernia, planned before it becomes stuck or painful.
Kidney Stone Treatment (URS / PCNL)
Keyhole and laser treatment for kidney and ureter stones — a different problem from gallstones, though the pain can feel similar.
Appendectomy
Keyhole or open removal of an inflamed appendix, usually carried out soon after the diagnosis is confirmed.
ERCP for Bile Duct Stones
An endoscopy through the mouth that removes stones from the main bile duct, often before gallbladder surgery.
Abdominal Ultrasound
A radiation-free scan that shows gallstones, the bile ducts, liver and kidneys in a few minutes.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Keyhole removal of the uterus for fibroids, heavy bleeding and other conditions, with a short stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions patients and families ask us about laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
Yes. The liver keeps making bile, which now flows directly into the intestine instead of being stored. Most people eat normally within a few weeks. A few notice loose stools after fatty meals for some time, which usually settles with diet changes.
Can only the stones be removed and the gallbladder left behind?
No. A gallbladder that has formed stones usually keeps forming them, and leaving it behind means the attacks are likely to return. Removing the whole gallbladder is the accepted treatment.
I have gallstones but no pain. Do I need surgery?
Usually not. Stones found by chance on a scan are generally watched. Your surgeon may advise removal in particular situations, such as very large stones, a thickened or calcified gallbladder, or polyps, and will explain the reasons in your case.
Is the operation painful? What will I feel?
You are fully asleep during the operation. Afterwards most people have moderate soreness at the cuts and some bloating for a few days, controlled with tablets. An ache in the shoulder is common for a day or two; it comes from the gas used during surgery and passes on its own.
What should I eat after gallbladder surgery?
Start with light, home-cooked, low-fat meals — dal, rice, roti, khichdi, vegetables, curd and fruit — and eat smaller portions more often. Go easy on fried and very oily food for the first few weeks, then return to a normal balanced diet.
How soon after an attack should the gallbladder be removed?
For an acutely inflamed gallbladder, surgery within the first few days of the same admission is generally preferred when it is safe. For ordinary pain attacks, a planned date within a few weeks is reasonable. Delaying for months increases the chance of another attack or a complication.
I have diabetes. Should I wait before having surgery?
People with diabetes are at higher risk of severe gallbladder infection, so troublesome gallstones should not be put off for long. We check and optimise your sugar control before the operation and monitor it closely afterwards to help the wounds heal well.
Why is my gallbladder sent to the laboratory?
It is routine to examine the removed gallbladder under a microscope. In almost all cases the report shows only stones and inflammation. Rarely it shows something that needs further tests, which is why we ask you to attend the review visit.
How much does gallbladder surgery cost, and is it covered by insurance?
The cost depends on whether the surgery is planned or emergency, whether an ERCP is also needed, and the length of stay. Our team gives a written estimate before a planned operation. SKS Hospital is empanelled with major insurers and TPAs, and gallbladder surgery is usually covered — our insurance desk helps with pre-authorisation.
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