Why Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery Is the Best Option

If you struggle with gallstones or any other issue with your gallbladder, then it goes without saying that this can be a painful and very frustrating experience. For many men and women who suffer from gallbladder issues, the only way to truly alleviate the pain from this condition is to remove the gallbladder completely. There are two ways in which gallbladder surgery can be performed. And while the ultimate decision will be up to your surgeon to make, it can be helpful to understand a little bit more about these two methods to help you know your options and what to expect from whichever technique is used.

What Are the Two Gallbladder Surgery Techniques?

Your gallbladder removal surgery can be performed either as an open procedure or as a laparoscopic procedure. The main difference between these two techniques is the specific incision used to remove the actual gallbladder. Below is a more in depth breakdown of each of these methods.

Open Cholecystectomy

With open gallbladder surgery, a six inch incision will be made in your abdomen, located below the ribs on the right side of the torso. Once the incision is made, Dr. Moore will move the muscle and tissue aside and surgically remove the gallbladder. When the gallbladder is removed, the incision will be closed and you will be ready to begin your gallbladder recovery.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic removal is similar to an open procedure in that incisions will be made in the torso and the gallbladder will be removed from the body. However, four half-inch incisions are used, and a specialized tool is inserted through the incisions to cut away the gallbladder. Just as with the open procedure, once the gallbladder is removed from the body, Dr. Moore will close the incisions and you will be able to start your recovery process.

What Are the Differences Between These Methods?

As discussed above, the major difference between an open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the incision(s) used to remove the gallbladder. While the laparoscopic technique requires more incisions in total, they are significantly smaller than the single incision used for the open technique. Because of this, the resulting scars will be much smaller and less visible with a laparoscopic approach. This reason alone can cause many men and women to prefer a laparoscopic technique over an open procedure.

In addition to the size of the incisions and the resulting scars from the two gallbladder surgery techniques, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy can take a shorter amount of time to complete (as little as one hour), whereas the open approach can take upwards of two hours. Also, there is less chance of infection with the laparoscopic method along with better overall wound healing and a faster recovery time.

While a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is certainly more desirable, it is important to understand that this is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Depending on the patient’s specific needs, an open cholecystectomy may be necessary. This decision is ultimately made by your surgeon and will be decided based on your evaluation at your consultation.

For more information about gallbladder surgery, please contact Patrick Moore MD, FACS by calling 951-477-5700.