In a groundbreaking surgical feat, surgeons at Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore successfully performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on Mrs. Suma (name changed), a 51-year-old woman and removed 345 stones from her gallbladder

Led by Dr. Girish, Lead Consultant, General and GI Surgery, Aster RV Hospital, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy was conducted with precision and finesse. Despite the challenges posed by a hugely distended gallbladder and the need to extract numerous stones, the surgery was flawlessly completed.

Throwing light on the surgery Dr Girish said, “The patient was asymptomatic for the last 10 years and developed abdominal pain for one month. Abdominal ultrasound revealed Cholelithiasis with mild cholecystitis. She underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia.  Though it was a hugely distended gallbladder containing so many stones, we could extract all the stones and gallbladder through tiny 1cm incision without extending the incision. This was extremely challenging in terms of manipulating the huge gallbladder during laparoscopic surgery and extraction through keyholes without spillage”.

Dr. Shivaprasad Giliyar Srinivasa, Consultant General and GI Surgery, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore said, “This surgery presented unique challenges, particularly due to the size of the gallbladder and the multitude of stones. Our focus was on meticulous handling and extraction to ensure a successful outcome. The teamwork and expertise displayed during this procedure were exceptional, showcasing the capabilities of modern medical science. The perioperative period was normal, and the patient is now on her way to a smooth recovery.”

Usually, between two and 100 gallstones are removed during a surgery. Thus, the successful extraction of such a significant number of stones from a distended gallbladder is a rare feat.

FACTS AND FIGURES: Gallstone disease is most common among the patients who visit gastrointestinal outpatient department. Gallstone disease, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common surgical cases in operation list in almost all the hospital. As per epidemiological studies, though,10 to 15 percent of people is found to have gallstones and out of this, only 20% of them are symptomatic and 80% will live without any symptoms. Among the above population, only 3 to 5 % patients undergo surgery, and rest of them ignore and end up in complications due to lack of awareness. Gallstones are found more in females, possibly due to high levels of estrogen which may raise the level of cholesterol in the bile- which is the trigger for gallstone formation.