What Is Gallbladder Cancer Surgery?

Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) plus surrounding tissue to treat malignancy detected in or around the gallbladder.

Why Do I Need It?

You may be advised to have surgery if imaging or biopsy confirms gallbladder cancer, especially if:

  • Cancer is confined to the gallbladder wall (T1 or T2 stage)
  • There’s no distant spread (metastasis)

How Should I Prepare?

  • Pre‐op Testing: Blood work, ECG, chest X‐ray.
  • Imaging: Contrast CT or MRI to assess local and distant spread.
  • Medications: Stop blood thinners per protocol.
  • Fasting: Nil per os (NPO) from midnight before surgery.
  • Consent: Review risks, benefits, and alternatives with your surgeon.

What Happens During the Procedure?

  • Under general anesthesia, a laparoscopic (keyhole) or open approach is used.
  • Surgeon removes gallbladder, a wedge of liver tissue, and adjacent lymph nodes.
  • Drains may be placed near the liver bed.

What Can I Expect Afterwards?

  • Hospital Stay: 5–7 days average.
  • Pain Control: IV and oral analgesics.
  • Diet: Clear liquids progressing to solids over 2–3 days.
  • Drains: Removed once output is minimal (usually day 3–5).

Risks & Possible Complications

  • Bile leak (5–10%)
  • Bleeding or hematoma (2–5%)
  • Infection or abscess (5%)
  • Injury to bile ducts or surrounding organs (<2%)

Seek immediate care for fever, jaundice, increasing abdominal pain, or bile‐colored drain output.

Follow-Up

  • Pathology review in 7–10 days to guide further therapy (chemo/radiation).

Clinic visits every 3 months for the first year with imaging and blood tests.