Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)

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Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing gallbladder and gallstones 
Gallstones

Cholecystectomy is used to treat gallstones and the complications they cause. Your doctor may recommend cholecystectomy if you have:

  • Gallstones in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis)
  • Gallstones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
  • Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
  • Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)
References
  1. Glasgow RE, et al. Treatment of gallstone disease. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Oct. 15, 2010.
  2. Patient information for laparoscopic gall bladder removal (cholecystectomy) from SAGES. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. http://www.sages.org/publication/id/PI11/. Accessed Oct. 15, 2010.
  3. Cholecystectomy. American College of Surgeons. http://www.facs.org/public_info/operation/cholesys.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2010.
  4. Sauter GH, et al. Bowel habits and bile acid malabsorption in the months after cholecystectomy. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2002;97:1732.
MY00372 Dec. 28, 2010

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