Cholecystectomy, often referred to as gallbladder surgery, is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is one of the most commonly performed general surgical procedures and typically done for patients that have gallstones. The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile which is produced by the liver. Often, gallstones can form in the gallbladder. This is a common condition that can often lead to pain in the upper abdomen. Symptoms can also include nausea, vomiting, indigestion and in some cases even fever or jaundice. For patients experiencing these symptoms, a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is performed.
Less pain and quick recovery
Our expert surgeons have advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery and they employ these laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques for all gallbladder surgeries. The surgery is typically done as an outpatient, not requiring an overnight stay in the hospital. The smaller keyhole incision approach allows for less pain and quicker recovery with most patient returning to normal activity within days.
At Virginia Hospital Center, our surgeons have access to state-of-the-art technologies including Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence imaging. This advanced imaging turns the bile ducts into a green color under special lighting which allows superior visualization of the bile duct anatomy in real-time during gallbladder surgery. Our surgeons use this routinely in all laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy which helps improve outcomes and minimize the risk of bile duct injuries, and translates into a safer surgery.