Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Before recommending surgery, Dr Mansoor confirms exactly what's happening in your gallbladder:

• Abdominal ultrasound: the first-line test. It checks for stones and for thickening of the gallbladder wall.
• Blood tests: check for infection and for signs the bile duct is involved.
• Further imaging (CT or MRCP): used if a stone may have moved into the bile duct itself.

Dr Mansoor reviews these results with you. Together you confirm whether gallbladder removal is the right treatment before booking surgery.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is keyhole surgery to remove your gallbladder. "Laparoscopic" means the operation uses small cuts and a camera instead of one large incision. "Cholecystectomy" simply means gallbladder removal.

Dr Mansoor makes 3 to 4 small cuts in your abdomen, each about 1cm long. A thin camera, called a laparoscope, and surgical instruments pass through these cuts. He removes the gallbladder through one of them. You'll be asleep under general anaesthetic for the whole procedure. It usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Most patients go home the same day or after one night in hospital.

In rare cases, Dr Mansoor may need to switch to open surgery, meaning one larger cut. This happens if the anatomy isn't clear enough to continue safely with keyhole instruments. He'll discuss this possibility with you before your operation.

• Fasting: no food for 6 hours before, and only clear fluids up to 2 hours before your admission time. The hospital will confirm your exact times.
• Medication review: tell Dr Mansoor about blood thinners, aspirin, or supplements. Some need to stop beforehand.
• Pre-op bloods: and any final checks the hospital requires.
• Arrange a lift home: you can't drive yourself after general anaesthetic.
• Arrange company: ask someone to stay with you for the first night.
• Plan time off: about a week for desk-based work, longer if your job is physical.

You'll be admitted a few hours before surgery. The anaesthetist and Dr Mansoor will see you beforehand to answer any last questions. Once you're asleep, the procedure itself takes under an hour. You'll wake up in the recovery room, then move to a ward once you're stable.

• Pain at the small incision sites is normal. Some people also feel pain in their shoulder tip, from the gas used during surgery, not an injury. Painkillers manage both.
• Most people walk the same day, which helps recovery and lowers your risk of complications.
• Keep the dressings clean and dry. Dr Mansoor's rooms will tell you when to remove them.
• Light activity is fine within a few days. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 2 to 4 weeks.
• Most people return to desk work within a week. Physical work takes longer, confirm with Dr Mansoor at your follow-up.

Contact the rooms immediately if you notice any of the following after surgery:

• Fever
• Increasing pain instead of gradual improvement
• Redness, swelling, or discharge at a wound site
• Vomiting that won't stop
• Yellowing of your skin or eyes
• No bowel movement or trapped wind that doesn't ease after a few days

After hours, go to your nearest emergency room rather than waiting for the rooms to open.

Your liver still makes enough bile to digest food normally without a gallbladder. Most people eat normally within a few weeks. Some notice looser stools after fatty meals in the first month or two. This usually settles as your body adjusts.