Abdominal problems involving the gallbladder (gallstones) or the appendix are among the most common reasons patients need a surgical consultation. At Healing Tree Hospital, Indirapuram, our surgical unit handles both planned (elective) daycare procedures and emergency abdominal operations, using minimally invasive laparoscopic (keyhole) technique wherever appropriate.
Gallbladder stones: elective vs emergency surgery
Gallstones (cholelithiasis) form when cholesterol or bilirubin crystallises in the gallbladder. Depending on severity, surgical treatment (cholecystectomy) falls into two categories:
- Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: recommended when an ultrasound shows gallstones causing biliary colic, the recurrent upper-abdominal pain that follows fatty meals. Operating electively avoids the more severe complications later.
- Emergency cholecystectomy: needed when a stone blocks the cystic duct and causes acute cholecystitis. Symptoms include severe constant right-sided abdominal pain, fever, nausea and jaundice. Delaying surgery here risks gallbladder rupture or gangrene.
Appendicitis: almost always urgent
- Emergency laparoscopic appendectomy: acute appendicitis usually needs keyhole surgery within 12 to 24 hours. Delay can let the appendix burst, causing peritonitis, a serious infection of the abdominal lining.
- Interval (planned) appendectomy: occasionally, a patient presents with an appendix lump (phlegmon) that settles with antibiotics. Surgery is then postponed 6 to 8 weeks and done electively under stable conditions.
What keyhole surgery means for your recovery
Our general surgery team operates in modular operating theatres designed for sterile, filtered airflow. Because the operation happens through three or four small ports (5 mm to 10 mm) instead of one large incision:
- Post-operative pain, and the need for strong painkillers, is usually much less.
- Most patients go home within a day or two.
- Small wounds and strict asepsis reduce the risk of wound infection.
The hospital serves CGHS and other government and insurance panels; in an emergency our front desk handles the cashless paperwork alongside the treatment, not before it.
Frequently asked questions
Can gallstones be dissolved with medicines?
No. Medicines cannot reliably dissolve calcified gallstones. The definitive treatment, and the way to avoid repeated attacks, is surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Does removing the gallbladder affect digestion?
The liver keeps producing bile, which simply flows directly into the small intestine after surgery. Most patients eat and live entirely normally once recovered.