Cholecystectomy
What is Cholecystectomy?
A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder, typically to treat gallstones (cholelithiasis) or related complications like cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation). It is one of the most common abdominal surgeries and can be performed laparoscopically or as an open procedure. In India, cholecystectomy is conducted in general surgery departments, offering high-quality care at affordable costs. For patients and families in India, understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for informed decision-making and optimal outcomes.
Why do you need Cholecystectomy?
Cholecystectomy is indicated for:
- Symptomatic gallstones: Biliary colic (severe abdominal pain), often triggered by fatty meals.
- Acute cholecystitis: Gallbladder inflammation, usually from a stone blocking the cystic duct.
- Gallstone complications:
- Choledocholithiasis (stones in the common bile duct).
- Gallstone pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation from a stone).
- Cholangitis (bile duct infection).
- Acalculous cholecystitis: Gallbladder inflammation without stones, often in critically ill patients.
- Gallbladder polyps or cancer: Rare, but may require removal if symptomatic or malignant.
- Biliary dyskinesia: Impaired gallbladder function causing pain, confirmed by a low ejection fraction on a HIDA scan.
The procedure aims to relieve pain, prevent complications, and eliminate the source of infection or obstruction. In India, hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS specialize in cholecystectomy, with laparoscopic being the preferred approach.
Why Do Cholecystectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Laparoscopic (₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh), open (₹1–2.5 lakh), complex cases with ERCP (₹1.5–3 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹20,000–₹80,000).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced general surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Diagnostics (ultrasound, MRCP), hospital stay, ERCP (₹30,000–₹80,000), antibiotics.
- Insurance: Covered for symptomatic gallstones or complications; Ayushman Bharat offers subsidies.
Cholecystectomy Procedure
The procedure varies based on the surgical approach and patient condition:
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Ultrasound confirms gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening, or pericholecystic fluid (signs of cholecystitis).
- Blood tests assess liver function (e.g., elevated bilirubin, ALP in bile duct obstruction) and infection (e.g., WBC).
- MRCP or ERCP may be needed for suspected bile duct stones.
- HIDA scan evaluates gallbladder function in biliary dyskinesia.
- Blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) are stopped 5–7 days prior to reduce bleeding risk.
- Patients fast for 6–8 hours before surgery; IV fluids and antibiotics (e.g., cefazolin) are given.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy:
- Standard approach, performed under general anesthesia, lasting 45–90 minutes.
- Four small incisions (0.5–1 cm) are made: one at the navel (for the camera) and three in the upper abdomen (for instruments).
- The abdomen is inflated with CO2 gas to create space for visualization.
- The gallbladder is dissected from the liver bed, and the cystic duct and artery are clipped and divided.
- The gallbladder is removed through the navel incision in a retrieval bag.
- Incisions are closed with sutures or glue; often an outpatient procedure or 1-day stay.
- Open Cholecystectomy:
- Used for complicated cases (e.g., severe inflammation, scarring, or gallbladder cancer), lasting 1–2 hours.
- A 10–15 cm incision is made under the right rib cage (right subcostal) or midline.
- The gallbladder is removed using a similar dissection technique as laparoscopic, but with direct visualization.
- A drain may be placed to manage bile leakage; hospital stay is 3–5 days.
- Additional Procedures:
- Intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC): Dye is injected to check for bile duct stones.
- ERCP: May be needed pre- or post-surgery to remove bile duct stones.
- Conversion to open: Occurs in 5–10% of laparoscopic cases if complications arise (e.g., unclear anatomy, bleeding).
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Patients are monitored for a few hours (laparoscopic) or 1–2 days (open) for pain, nausea, and complications.
- Pain is managed with analgesics (e.g., paracetamol, ibuprofen); shoulder pain (from CO2 irritation) may occur in laparoscopic cases.
- Antibiotics are continued for 3–5 days if infection was present.
- A liquid diet starts within 6–12 hours, progressing to soft foods.
Recovery After Cholecystectomy
- Hospital Stay: Outpatient or 1 day (laparoscopic); 3–5 days (open).
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain for 3–7 days (laparoscopic) or 1–2 weeks (open), managed with analgesics.
- Incision care: Keep wounds dry for 48 hours; sutures (if not absorbable) are removed in 7–10 days.
- Antibiotics for 3–5 days if infection was present.
- Activity: Light walking on day 1; avoid heavy lifting for 2–4 weeks (laparoscopic) or 4–6 weeks (open).
- Diet:
- Start with liquids (e.g., water, clear soups) for 1–2 days, then soft foods (e.g., rice, boiled vegetables).
- Avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods for 4–6 weeks to prevent diarrhea or bloating (due to bile flow changes).
- Gradually reintroduce a normal diet; 2–3 liters water daily.
- Follow-Up:
- Visit at 1–2 weeks to check incisions and recovery.
- No routine imaging unless complications (e.g., bile leak) are suspected.
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 weeks (laparoscopic) or 4–6 weeks (open). Success rates are 95–98% for symptom relief; complications occur in 2–5% of cases.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks: Bleeding (1–2%), infection (1–3%), bile duct injury (0.3–0.5%, more common in laparoscopic).
- Post-Surgical Complications:
- Bile leak (1–2%), potentially requiring ERCP or reoperation.
- Post-cholecystectomy syndrome (5–10%): Persistent pain or diarrhea from bile reflux or retained stones.
- General Risks: Anesthesia reactions, blood clots (DVT, <1%).
- Long-Term: Diarrhea (5–10%, from altered bile flow), usually resolves in 3–6 months; rare risk of bile duct stricture.
Report fever, severe pain, jaundice, or persistent vomiting promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for cholecystectomy?
Gallstones causing pain, inflammation (cholecystitis), or complications (e.g., pancreatitis, cholangitis).
Can I live without a gallbladder?
Yes, the liver still produces bile; most adapt, though some experience diarrhea or dietary changes.
Is laparoscopic better than open cholecystectomy?
Yes, for most cases—less pain, smaller scars, faster recovery; open is reserved for complicated cases.
How soon can I resume activities?
1–2 weeks (laparoscopic), 4–6 weeks (open).
Is cholecystectomy covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for symptomatic gallstones or complications; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe pain, jaundice, or vomiting.
Will my diet change permanently?
Most return to a normal diet in 4–6 weeks; some avoid fatty foods long-term to prevent diarrhea.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Low-fat diet initially, maintain healthy weight, regular follow-ups if complications arise.
Conclusion
Cholecystectomy is a safe, effective procedure for gallstone-related issues, with excellent outcomes and minimal recovery time, especially with the laparoscopic approach. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) offer affordable, expert care. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach cholecystectomy confidently. Consult a general surgeon for personalized guidance and successful treatment.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Cholecystectomy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Ahmedabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ajmer |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Aligarh |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Allahabad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Amritsar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bangalore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bareilly |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Belgaum |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhopal |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bikaner |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Chandigarh |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chennai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dehradun |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Delhi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Durgapur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Faridabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Guntur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guwahati |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gwalior |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Hyderabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Indore |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Jaipur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kanpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kochi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kolkata |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kollam |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Lucknow |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Madurai |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mangalore |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Meerut |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Moradabad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mysore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nagpur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nashik |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Noida |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Patna |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Pune |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Raipur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Rajkot |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ranchi |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Surat |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Thane |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Vadodara |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Varanasi |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.