An open cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder through a large incision in the abdomen:
Procedure
The surgeon makes a 6-inch incision in the abdomen below the ribs on the right side. The surgeon pulls back the muscle and tissue to reveal the gallbladder, removes it, and closes the incision. The procedure takes 1 to 2 hours.
Purpose
An open cholecystectomy is used when laparoscopic surgery can't be done safely. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:
Unexpected bleeding during laparoscopic surgery
Obesity
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Pregnancy (third trimester)
Severe liver problems
Past surgeries in the same area of the belly
Safety
An open cholecystectomy is a relatively simple and safe procedure. However, like any type of surgery, there's a risk of complications, such as wound infection or bile leaking into the tummy.
Recovery
After the surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery area.
Alternatives
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common type of gallbladder removal surgery. It's a minimally invasive surgery that allows you to leave the hospital sooner, recover faster, and have smaller scars
