Is keyhole surgery for gallbladder removal less risky than open surgery?

Doctor's Answers 1

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Dr Stephen Chang

General Surgeon

Both open surgery and keyhole surgery have their own risks. For open surgery, as the wound is much larger, there is a greater risk of wound infection and wound healing failures such as hernia development.

For keyhole surgery, traditionally there is a greater risk of bile duct injury. But with increasing experience, this risk is approximating that of open surgery. Surgeon's experience is probably the main determinant of this risk. In addition, for keyhole surgery, traditionally there is increased risk in patients with heart function insufficiency. However, with experience and newer surgical strategies, this risk is similarly approximating that of open surgery.

Dr. Stephen Chang Medical Director, GLAD ClinicAdj Assoc Professor, NUS

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Is it possible for gallstones to come back and cause pain, even after a gallbladder removal?

The primary function of the gallbladder is to temporarily store and, at the same time, concentrate the bile juice within. Unknown to many, bile juice is secreted by the liver and not the gallbladder. After leaving the liver, the bile juice enters and leaves the gallbladder through the cystic duct which connects the liver ducts to the gallbladder. We now understand that the gallbladder functions very similarly to a store room for spare bile. As such, removing the gallbladder will not have a great impact on one’s health and certainly should not cause a drastic deterioration.

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