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Gallbladder removal surgery, or cholecystectomy, is a common procedure to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ located in the upper right part of the abdomen that stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver to aid in digesting fatty foods.
Gallbladder removal surgery is recommended for people experiencing gallstone-related complications, such as biliary colic, where stones block the flow of bile, causing severe pain. Symptoms that may indicate the need for gallbladder removal surgery include abdominal pain lasting several hours, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, jaundice, and other signs of serious infection or inflammation of the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.
Before undergoing gallbladder removal surgery, patients should adhere to the following preparations:
Gallbladder surgery can be done in one of two ways.
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove the gallbladder. It is preferred over open surgery due to its minimally invasive nature, which typically results in reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.
1. Anaesthesia Administration
2. Incisions Are Made in the Abdomen
3. Inserting the Laparoscope
4. Identifying and Dissecting the Gallbladder
5. Removing the Gallbladder
6. Checking for Complications
7. Closing the Incisions
An open cholecystectomy is considered only in the circumstance where a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is unsafe.
1. Anaesthesia Administration
2. Incision Made in the Abdomen
3. Exposing the Gallbladder
4. Identifying and Dissecting the Gallbladder
5. Removing the Gallbladder
6. Checking for Complications
7. Closing the Incision
Gallbladder removal surgery alleviates the pain and discomfort associated with gallstones, improving the quality of life for patients. By removing the gallbladder, the surgery eliminates the risk of further gallstone formation and associated complications, such as biliary colic. Additionally, cholecystectomy can prevent recurrent infections or inflammations, ensuring better gastrointestinal health.
Consult our dual fellowship-trained surgeon for a personalised treatment plan today.
Post-surgical care and recovery after gallbladder removal surgery are important for a smooth healing process:
To prevent gallstones and the need for gallbladder removal surgery, people can consider the following preventive measures.
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Dr Thng Yongxian is a dual fellowship-trained Hepatopancreatobiliary & General Surgeon who has performed over 6000 surgical procedures.
He pursued his subspecialty training in Hepatopancreatobiliary surgery first in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Singapore General Hospital. Following this, he completed a clinical fellowship in Minimally Invasive Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital in Bundang, South Korea.
Dr Thng set up and pioneered the Minimally invasive surgery program for his hospital in complex liver and pancreas cases. His surgeries were featured on live national television. His surgical videos have also been presented at international surgical conferences. He also pioneered the use of capsule colonoscopy for colorectal screening.
Dr Thng has served on various committees at hospital, cluster and ministry level. Dr Thng served as a member of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Clinician workgroup for value-driven care (VDC).
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820 Thomson Road, #06-05 ,Singapore 574623
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday: 9.00am-1.00pm
Sunday & PH: Closed
3 Mount Elizabeth, #08-06, Singapore 228510
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday: 9.00am-1.00pm
Sunday & PH: Closed
38 Irrawaddy Road, #08-43, Singapore 329563
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday: 9.00am-1.00pm
Sunday & PH: Closed
319 Joo Chiat Place, #05-01, Singapore 427989
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday, Sunday & PH: Closed
6 Napier Road, #05-10, Singapore 258499
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday: 9.00am-1.00pm
Sunday & PH: Closed
820 Thomson Road, #06-05 ,Singapore 574623
Monday-Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
(Lunch: 1.00-2.00pm)
Saturday: 9.00am-1.00pm
Sunday & PH: Closed
Gallbladder surgery is considered relatively safe with a minimal rate of complications. Risks include those associated with general anaesthesia, the potential for infection, bleeding, and the possibility of damaging adjacent organs, which might require further surgical intervention to repair any injuries.
The liver continues to produce bile for digestion, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it’s held in the bile ducts before being released into the small intestine when you eat.
Typically, patients are advised to avoid very greasy foods for the first 2 weeks post-surgery, as the bile in the ducts might not be sufficient to digest a fatty meal. After 2 weeks, the bile ducts adapt, increasing their storage capacity and allowing them to return to a normal diet.
Before surgery, you will undergo a preoperative assessment to ensure you are fit for the procedure. This may involve blood tests, discussions about the type of surgery, and advice on lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or losing weight.
The recovery time varies depending on the type of surgery and healing. Most people generally return to work within 1-2 weeks after laparoscopic surgery and 4-6 weeks after open surgery.
Since the gallbladder is removed during surgery, gallstones cannot form there again. In rare cases, stones can develop in the bile ducts or liver post-surgery, requiring further treatment.