What it is?

             In surgery of gallbladder removal, a surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in your belly to open it up and see the area. The surgeon then removes your gallbladder by reaching in through the incision and gently lifting it out. Surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and unable to feel pain). The surgeon will make a 5 to 7 inch incision in the upper right part of your belly, just below your ribs. The surgeon will cut the bile duct and blood vessels that lead to the gallbladder. Then your gallbladder will be removed. A special x-ray called a cholangiogram will be done during the surgery. This involves squirting some dye into your common bile duct. This duct will be left inside you after your gallbladder has been removed. The dye helps locate other stones that may be outside your gallbladder. If any are found, the surgeon may be able to remove these other stones with a special medical instrument. Open gallbladder removal surgery takes about an hour.

Reason for the procedure
             Your doctor may recommend gallbladder removal surgery if you have gallstones or your gallbladder is not functioning normally (biliary dyskinesia). See also: Gallbladder disease

You may have some or all of these symptoms:
Pain after eating, usually in the upper right or upper middle area of your belly (epigastric pain)
1) Nausea and vomiting
2) Indigestion
3) Infection (cholecystitis)
             The most common way to remove the gallbladder is by using a medical instrument called a laparoscope. See also: Gallbladder removal - laparoscopic

Other the reasons for this surgery may be :
You have had many surgeries in this part of your belly in the past
Breathing problems
Severe liver problems
Bleeding problems
You are in your third trimester of pregnancy
Obesity
Pancreatitis

Risks
Talk with your doctor about any of these risks.
The risks for any anesthesia are:
1) Reactions to drugs you are given
2) Breathing problems
3) Pneumonia
4) Heart problems
5) Blood clots in the legs or in the lungs

The risks for gallbladder surgery are:
1) Bleeding
2) Infection
3) Injury to the common bile duct
4) Injury to the small intestine
5) Preoperative period

Your doctor may ask you to have these medical tests done before you have surgery:
1) Blood tests (complete blood count, electrolytes, and kidney tests)
2) Chest x-ray or electrocardiogram (EKG), for some patients
3) Several x-rays of the gallbladder

Always tell your doctor or nurse:
1) If you are or might be pregnant
2) What drugs, vitamins, and other supplements you are taking, even ones you bought without a prescription

During the week before your surgery:
1) You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), vitamin E, warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot.
2) Your doctor may ask you to "clean out" your colon or intestines.
3) Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.

On the day of the surgery:
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
Shower the night before or the morning of your surgery
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

Prepare your home for after the surgery.
Procedure

             

             If the gallbladder is extremely inflamed, infected, or has large gallstones, the abdominal approach (open cholecystectomy) is recommended. A small incision is made just below the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. The liver is moved to expose the gallbladder. The vessels and tubes (cystic duct and artery) to and from the gallbladder are cut and the gallbladder is removed. The tube (common bile duct) that drains the digestive fluid (bile) from the liver to the small intestine (duodenum) is examined for blockages or stones. A small flat tube may be left in for several days to drain out fluids if there is inflammation or infection.

Post operative perood
People usually stay in the hospital for 2 to 6 days after open gallbladder removal. During that time:
You will be asked to breathe into a medical device called an incentive spirometer. This helps keep your lungs working well so that you do not get pneumonia.
The nurse will help you sit up in bed, hang your legs over the side, and then stand up and start to walk.
             At first you will receive fluids into your vein through an intravenous tube (IV). Soon, though, the doctors and nurses will ask you to start drinking liquids and then eat other foods.
You will be able to begin showering again while you are still in the hospital.
You may be asked to wear pressure stockings on your legs to help prevent a blood clot from forming. These help keep your blood circulating well.

             If there were problems during your surgery, or if you have bleeding, a lot of pain, or a fever, you may need to stay in the hospital longer.

Prognosis
Most people do very well and recover quickly.

Reference: MedlinePlus