Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder Surgery in Buffalo, NY

Gallbladder Surgery

Treating Residents of Amherst, Buffalo, Tonawanda & Williamsville, NY Since 1980

Your gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ in your upper abdomen that collects and stores bile which helps your body break down food. Small, hard deposits called gallstones can form in the gallbladder, which is a common condition. When gallstones cause health issues, surgery may be required to remove your gallbladder.

A cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder which can relieve the pain and discomfort of gallstones.
There are 2 types of surgery to remove the gallbladder:

Open method – One incision is made in the upper right-hand side of the belly which is about 4 to 6 inches long. The surgeon finds the gallbladder and takes it out through the incision.

Laparoscopic method – Three or four small very small incisions are made, and a long, thin tube called a laparoscope is used. The tube has a tiny video camera and surgical tools which are put in through the incisions and the gallbladder is removed through one of the incisions.

Why Gallbladder Surgery May Be Required

A cholecystectomy may be recommended if you have:
  • Gallstones in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis)
  • Gallstones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
  • Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
  • Large gallbladder polyps
  • Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis) due to gallstones

What to Expect

A cholecystectomy is performed using general anesthesia which are given through a vein in your arm. A breathing tube will be inserted to help you breathe. The cholecystectomy will then be performed using either the laparoscopic or open procedure. The surgery lasts roughly two hours.

Risks

The overall risk of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is very low. The most serious possible complications include:
  • Infection of an incision.
  • Internal bleeding
  • Bile leak
  • Injury to the common bile duct
  • Risks of general anesthesia
  • Injury to nearby structures, such as the bile duct, liver, and small intestine

Recovery

Most people can return to their normal activities in 7 to 10 days. People who have laparoscopic gallbladder surgery are sore for about a week but have much less discomfort in the following weeks than people who have open surgery. No special diets or other precautions are needed after surgery.

Contact Our General Surgeons Today

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Amherst Surgical Associates, PC today. We specialize in general, robotic, and laparoscopic surgery and proudly serve patients throughout Amherst, Tonawanda, Buffalo, and Williamsville, NY.

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