Your surgeon for Gallstone
Every procedure is carried out by a consultant-level surgeon.
What is Gallstone?
Gallstones are hard deposits of cholesterol and bile pigment that form inside the gallbladder, the small sac that stores bile for digestion. They can stay silent for years, or they can cause pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea and vomiting, especially after a fatty meal.
It is why the pain comes in attacks - a stone shifts and blocks the neck of the gallbladder, the sac contracts against it, and the pain builds over minutes to hours. A stone that blocks the bile duct can also cause jaundice and fever, and that is treated as an emergency.
Diagnosis is made from your symptoms and a physical examination, with an abdominal ultrasound showing the stones clearly; blood tests, and sometimes a CT or MRI, check the bile duct.
At Primitive Health Care the usual treatment is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Three small keyhole cuts are made instead of one long open cut, the gallbladder is removed and the cuts are closed with fine stitches. Most patients are discharged within 24 hours.
Illustration only. Your surgeon will explain your own findings.
Gallstone treatment at a glance
The essentials, before you read any further.
| Condition | Gallstone |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy |
| Duration | 45 to 90 minutes |
| Performed by | General / Laparoscopic Surgeon |
| Anaesthesia | General |
| Hospital stay | Discharged within 24 hours |
| Back to routine | 5 to 7 days |
Are you experiencing any of these?
If two or more of these sound familiar, it is worth speaking to a surgeon.
- Severe pain in the upper right abdomen
- Pain that spreads to the back or right shoulder
- Nausea and vomiting after meals
- Indigestion and bloating after fatty food
- Jaundice, with yellow skin or eyes
- Fever, when the gallbladder is inflamed
Talk to our medical adviser for free
No cost for the first consultation and no obligation to book anything.
Laser treatment compared with open surgery
Both are real options. This is how they differ in practice.
| Open surgery | Laser surgery | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts and incisions | A 8 to 12 cm cut is required | Three small keyhole cuts only |
| Stitches | Many stitches along the cut | A few fine stitches or glue |
| Pain afterwards | Significant, needs strong painkillers | Mild, controlled with routine medication |
| Bleeding | More | Minimal |
| Hospital stay | Three to four days | Discharged within 24 hours |
| Return to work | Three to four weeks | Five to seven days |
| Risk of wound infection | Higher, open wound | Low |
Laser treatment is not right for every patient or every grade of the condition. Your surgeon will tell you honestly if open surgery is the better choice for you.
Why patients choose laser treatment
What actually changes for you, day to day.
Smaller cuts and scars
Three small keyhole cuts instead of one long open cut, so the scar is much smaller.
Same-day discharge
Most patients are discharged within 24 hours of the procedure rather than staying in hospital for days.
Back to work in days
Normal routine usually resumes within five to seven days instead of three to four weeks.
Less bleeding
The laparoscopic instruments seal the vessels as they work, so blood loss during the procedure is minimal.
Lower infection risk
Small wounds carry much less risk of a wound infection than one large open cut.
Senior surgeons
Every procedure is performed by a professor-level general or laparoscopic surgeon.
What happens on the day
Step by step, so there are no surprises.
-
Consultation and diagnosis
20 to 30 minutes- You meet the surgeon and describe when the pain happens
- Examination, blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound confirm the stones
- The surgeon explains whether keyhole surgery is suitable for you
-
Admission and preparation
1 to 2 hours- Registration at the hospital on the day of the procedure
- Blood pressure, pulse and routine blood tests are checked
- Consent is signed and an IV line is started
-
Anaesthesia
10 to 15 minutes- General anaesthesia, so you stay asleep throughout
- You feel nothing during the procedure
-
The laparoscopic procedure
45 to 90 minutes- Three small cuts are made in the upper abdomen
- A camera shows the gallbladder and the bile duct
- The cystic duct is clipped and the gallbladder is removed
- The cuts are closed with fine stitches or glue
-
Recovery and observation
2 to 4 hours- You wake up in the recovery area and nurses check your vitals
- You start taking fluids once you are fully awake
-
Discharge and follow-up
Within 24 hours- Most patients go home the next day at the latest
- Painkillers, a light diet and early-walking advice are given
- A follow-up visit is arranged and wound care advice is given
What will it cost?
The cost depends on how many stones there are, whether the bile duct is blocked, the hospital you choose and the operating surgeon. Send your details and a care coordinator will call you with an exact figure. There is no obligation to book.
