Gall stones are formed in the gallbladder and vary in size, shape and colour. The liver manufactures bile which travels down the bile duct. Some of the bile is then directed into the gallbladder and concentrated. In susceptible people, the concentration of bile triggers the formation of crystals that slowly grow to form gall stones. Gall stones can become painful if they lodge themselves in the outlet of the gallbladder as this blocks bile from being released into the stomach. Ultrasound of the abdomen is the standard way of diagnosing gall stones.

If surgery is required, the whole of the gallbladder will be removed rather than just the stones themselves. Removing just the stones from the gallbladder is extremely difficult and much more dangerous than taking out the gallbladder. More importantly, even if you could just have the stones removed safely, they would almost certainly form again in the coming months or years. Also, a diseased gallbladder actually leads to formation of stones and if only the stones are removed, they will recur. It is always advisable to remove the gallbladder for that reason.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the medical term for removing the gallbladder using keyhole surgery. The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic, with only 4 tiny (less than 1cm) abdominal incisions needed to complete the operation. A telescope with a camera and light source is inserted through one of the tiny incisions so that the gallbladder and surrounding structures can be visualised on a television monitor. The view obtained is very clear and actually magnified to allow precise dissection of the delicate structures surrounding the gallbladder. Special dissecting instruments are inserted through the other incisions to allow the gallbladder to be removed safely. The operation usually takes approx. 90 minutes.

Patients requiring gallbladder surgery are usually admitted to hospital and will require overnight stay.