Open Surgery for the Gallbladder


Open surgery is most often referred to as the means of cutting skin and tissue so a surgeon has full view of the structures or specific organs involved. Common examples of open surgery are the removal of various organs, such as the gallbladder or kidneys.

In open surgery for the gallbladder, the gallbladder is removed through a precise incision in the abdomen area that is between 4 in to 8 in. long. The open surgery will generally last for one to two hours. A general anesthesia is required for this kind of surgery. The incision is usually made in one of two places, either under the border of the right side of the rib cage or between the navel and the bottom of the breast bone.

Most open gallbladder surgeries are done after a surgeon first tries to take out the gallbladder using laparoscopic surgery. Some people have specific conditions that require open surgery for the gallbladder.

Open surgery of the gallbladder will usually require a hospital stay of 2 to 4 days. Normal activities can be resumed within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Open surgery can involve more pain after the procedure and also a longer recovery period compared to laparoscopic surgery.

This kind of open surgery will leave a moderately large visible scar. For the most part, no special diets or other restrictions will be needed after the surgery.

There are several conditions that may lead to the need for open surgical removal of the gallbladder. Some of these conditions that would be more favorable to open surgery rather than laparoscopic surgery are severe swelling of the gallbladder, being in the third trimester of pregnancy, or having a major bleeding disorder.

All surgeries come with various degrees of risk. It is best to become as informed as possible about all possible complications associated with open surgery. The overall average risk of death from open surgery for removal of the gallbladder is about 1.5%, although the number is generally closer to 1%. The risk for death from open surgery for the gallbladder is highest when the surgery is done in an emergency situation.

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