The gallbladder is situated in the upper right side of the abdomen, under the liver and above the duodenum. Its function is to transport the bile produced by the liver into the bile ducts and then into the small intestine when needed. Bile is requested after eating because it is used in the process of digestion. Until then, the bile remains stocked inside the gallbladder and is being concentrated. You must not worry that your digestion will be affected after the removal of the gallbladder; most of the patients do not have problems with that.

Gallstones are a result of a malfunction of the gallbladder. They appear when the liquid inside the gallbladder hardens and creates small hard pieces that resemble to stone.
The reason why gallstones form out of bile is because sometimes the normal bile composition can change containing a lot of cholesterol or a lot of bile salts and bilirubin.

If the bile gets locked inside one of these ducts complications like pancreatitis or gallbladder inflammation can occur. Signs of such a problem are: jaundice, fever and intense pain that lasts a long time.

Gallstones are found by the doctor when using ultrasounds. There are other X-rays available too and they can also localize the gallstones. Generally surgery is recommended because gallstones do not disappear by themselves. Of course, treatment consisting out of low fat diet and some drugs can help but the gallstones will continue to form after a while.

The most recommended procedure of removing the gallbladder and gallstones is the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. By using the laparoscope procedure the patients will recover faster and will suffer less pain because the wounds of the abdomen are significantly smaller and less that those made when performing a classical surgery. Most patients are free to go home after a day or two of hospitalization.

The laparoscopic procedure is not recommended for those who have scars from other surgeries or for pregnant women in the last months or for those who have a severe inflammation along with peritonitis.

Before a surgery is done the patient will have to do some adjustments in his life like: giving up smoking, a complete check-up of the organism, a written consent for surgery, and a shower the night before the surgery. Also, do not forget to inform the surgeon about your current medication, this is very important for him.

During the surgery the patient will be sleeping with the help of an anesthetic and will not feel a thing. The surgeon will make three small incisions inside the abdomen and one through the belly button. Through those incisions he will introduce the laparoscope's instruments needed for surgery. One of the laparoscope's instruments has attached an optic video camera which allows the medical team to see what it is inside your abdomen. After that the surgeon will find the gallbladder and will remove it with the help of the other laparoscopic instruments. Also additional x-rays will be performed in order to see if there are any gallstones inside the bile ducts too. The wounds inside the abdomen will be closed with some stitches or surgical tape.

If the laparoscopic surgery can not be done, the surgeon will perform an open surgery, consisting out of making a cut inside the abdomen right under the right ribs and removing the gallbladder and gallstones through this incision.

After surgery is done the patient might be feeling nausea or vomiting and will be approved to leave the hospital only after liquids or a diet is tolerated. The dressing will be removed after a day or two and the patient will be able to take a shower and walk. Normal activity is possible after a week of resting. Also, a check up at the hospital is recommended after two weeks had passed since surgery was done.

Complications can occur and you must call the doctor if you do not feel well. Some of the complications are: pneumonia, infections of the wounds, blood clots, fever, chills, bleeding, or heart problems. But generally complications do not occur very often after gallbladder removal.