Expertise in robotic gallbladder surgery

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver, playing a crucial role in digestion. It stores and concentrates bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver, releasing it into the small intestine via the cystic duct and common bile duct to help break down dietary fats. In order to release bile, a small muscle that lines the gallbladder wall will contract in response to a fatty meal.

While the gallbladder is not essential for survival, its dysfunction—commonly due to gallstones, inflammation, or biliary dyskinesia—can cause pain and digestive issues, often requiring surgical intervention such as cholecystectomy, a routine procedure in modern minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

Gallstones are solid deposits that form in the gallbladder due to an imbalance in the composition of bile, typically involving cholesterol, bile salts, and bilirubin. These stones can vary in size and number, ranging from tiny grains to large stones that obstruct bile flow. While some gallstones remain asymptomatic, others can cause significant pain, nausea, bloating, and digestive issues, particularly when they block the cystic or common bile duct. This condition, known as biliary colic or cholecystitis when inflammation is present, often requires medical intervention.

Biliary dyskinesia can mimic symptoms of gallstones, and is due to the gallbladder’s inability to squeeze properly in response to a fatty meal. This effectively leads to gallbladder “cramping,” experienced in the form of biliary colic.

Treatment options include dietary modifications, medications, or, most commonly, surgical removal of the gallbladder through minimally invasive or robotic cholecystectomy, which provides effective and long-term relief.

Choledocholithiasis occurs when gallstones migrate from the gallbladder into the common bile duct, potentially causing obstruction, jaundice, abdominal pain, and infection. This condition can lead to serious complications like cholangitis or pancreatitis if left untreated. Diagnosis typically involves imaging such as ultrasound, MRCP, or ERCP, which can also be used for stone removal. ERCP is separate from surgery, performed by a specialty-trained gastroenterologist, and is often done before gallbladder removal, but in the same hospitalization.

Surgical intervention, including laparoscopic or robotic-assisted bile duct exploration, may be necessary to restore normal bile flow. With experienced surgeons like Dr. Le, both clearing of the common bile duct and gallbladder removal can be performed simultaneously, decreasing your length of hospital stay and overall cost.

Robotic Gallbladder Surgery

With an experienced surgeon like Dr. Le, robotic gallbladder surgery offers significant advantages over traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, providing greater precision, enhanced visualization, hidden incisions, and improved surgeon ergonomics. The robotic system features high-definition 3D magnification and wristed instruments that allow for finer, more controlled movements, reducing the risk of bile duct injury—a critical concern in gallbladder surgery. Additionally, robotic technology enables better access in complex cases, such as severe inflammation or adhesions, where traditional laparoscopy may be more challenging and thus pose a higher risk of complications. Patients benefit from small incisions, less postoperative pain, and a quicker recovery, making robotic cholecystectomy a superior option for both routine and complicated gallbladder disease.