A cholecystectomy, or the surgical removal of the gallbladder, is as a treatment for gallstones that are causing inflammation and pain. The gallbladder stores bile, which is made in the liver for use in the digestion of food. The formation of gallstones can prevent the bile from leaving the gallbladder. The result can be abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, and bloating, which is treated surgically with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
In most cases, the surgery is scheduled in advance; but in cases of severe inflammation, a gallbladder surgery may be performed shortly after diagnosis. Testing for gallbladder disease includes blood tests, and may include scans of the abdomen that detect the presence of gallstones and blockages.
