A gallbladder is a small organ, located on the right side of the body of an adult and attached to the liver by thin tissue. It acts as a reservoir for bile salts and stores them until they are needed. Gallstones can form when there is an imbalance in cholesterol, bile salts and other substances in the bile.
Gallbladder surgery is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Removal is recommended when patients develop symptoms related to gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder.
The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy. The procedure is often performed laparoscopically, with or without the assistance of a surgical robot, and is performed through tiny incisions in the abdomen. Open surgery may be required in some cases where the gallbaladder can not be safely removed with other techniques.