Cholecystectomy is the medical term used to describe the removal of the gallbladder. Most commonly this is done through a laparoscopic technique with additional benefits of smaller scars, reduced post-operative pain and quicker recovery. However, open rather than laparoscopic surgery may still be required in some conditions, such as:
- Abnormal anatomy in the abdomen
- Scar tissue from many previous abdominal surgeries
- Severe infection or inflammation of the bile duct or gallbladder
- Peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining)
- Portal hypertension (high pressure in blood vessels in the liver caused by liver cirrhosis)
- A major bleeding disorder or use of medicines to prevent blood clotting (blood thinners or anticoagulants)