The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ situated near the liver and the duodenum. It is used by the body to deposit the bile, a substance that is required to dissolve fat during digestion. After reaching the age of 40, in many people's gallbladder a crystallization phenomenon starts to appear and due to this gallbladder stones are formed. Sometimes these stones disappear on their own, but sometimes they don't and they start obstructing the bile duct, causing pain. If this happens surgery is needed. Gallbladder surgery is the most common type of surgery in the United States, millions have their gallbladder removed each year. Gallbladder surgery is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or laparoscopy. It can be performed in two ways - the direct, or open way, or the keyhole way

In the keyhole way, the doctor makes three small incisions around the gallbladder and another one in the stomachal area. Then an instrument called laparoscope that has a video camera attached to it is inserted in one of the incisions. Now the doctor can see everything that's happening in there. Through the other orifices that the doctor made other special surgical instruments are inserted. With their help the gallbladder is safely removed from its location and pulled out through the last hole, the one in the abdomen, which is bigger. Afterwards the wounds are closed and in a few days they will heal and the stitches can be removed. Patients recover very quickly after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, they usually go back home the next day. This is the most popular method.

The open method is needed when it's not safe to remove the gallbladder from the patient's body with the first method, which does not happen very often. In this case, an opening is made near the gallbladder and the doctor takes it out directly, without the need of a video camera or small tools. This method is referred to as 'open cholecystectomy'.

If the doctor told you that you need to be operated and your gallbladder has to be removed then it's best not to avoid or delay the surgery because complications appear in this situation. This means that you will start to feel pain and if the bile duct gets obstructed more problems can show up.

After the operation you will receive some medication and soon you can return to your normal activities, but you need to rest from time to time. And now that your gallbladder is gone, the body is not able to digest fat substances as it should, so you have to pay attention to your meals and reduce their fat.