gallstones are usually treated with surgery to take out the gallbladder. the traditional operation is called an open cholecystectomy. a more recently developed procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less invasive has fewer complications and is used in most cases. laparscopic cholecystectomy. during this procedure instruments and a light and a camera are passed through several small incisions in the abdomen. the surgeon views the inside of the body by looking at a video monitor. this procedure is used in approximately 80% of gallbladder removals. after the surgery the patient spends the night in the hospital. open cholecystectomy. this is a more invasive procedure in which the surgeon makes incisions in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. the patient stays in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. if gallstones are in the bile ducts endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp) may be used to find and remove them before or during gallbladder surgery.
how are gallstones treated?