Gallbladder Surgery at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, Mumbai
CritiCare Asia Hospitals is a general surgery hospital in Mumbai where gallbladder problems are assessed and treated at the Kurla centre. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped pouch under the liver that stores bile and releases it to digest fat. Gallstones form when bile holds too much cholesterol or the gallbladder empties poorly, and they range from a few millimetres to a few centimetres. Surgery becomes the sensible step when stones cause repeated or serious trouble, and our team explains gallbladder surgery in Kurla, Mumbai plainly, from the first scan to the day you go home.
A dull ache under the right ribs after a heavy meal is often put down to acidity, until an ultrasound says otherwise. Many stones cause no trouble and are found only on scans done for another reason. The difficulty begins when a stone blocks the cystic duct or slips into the bile duct, and the gallbladder becomes inflamed.
Symptoms to Watch For
These are the symptoms people describe most often, and any of them is reason enough to get a scan.
- Upper right abdominal pain
dull or sharp, sometimes spreading to the back or right shoulder, usually after oily food - Nausea and vomiting
mostly during an attack of pain - Bloating and indigestion
a heavy, lingering fullness after meals - Fever with chills
may mean the gallbladder is infected - Yellow eyes or skin
with dark urine or pale stools, this suggests a stone in the bile duct
Who Is More Likely to Develop Gallstones
Some people carry a higher risk, and knowing where you stand helps you act early.
- Women, especially during pregnancy or hormonal treatment
- People above 40
- Excess weight, or weight lost quickly
- Diabetes
- A family history of gallstones
- A diet heavy in fried and fatty food
When Is Surgery Advised?
Stones that cause no symptoms are usually just watched. The decision changes when:
- Pain attacks keep returning or are severe
- The gallbladder is inflamed or infected
- Stones have moved into the bile duct
- Pancreatitis has occurred or is a risk
- Large polyps or other gallbladder problems are found
Symptomatic stones left untreated tend to bring more attacks and, at times, serious complications. Removing the gallbladder stops the problem at its source, and digestion carries on because the liver keeps producing bile. That is why gallbladder removal surgery in Kurla, Mumbai is usually planned once symptoms settle into a pattern.
Types of Gallbladder Surgery
Most operations are now keyhole, though other routes exist. The choice depends on how inflamed the gallbladder is and what else is happening.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
the usual route. Small cuts, a camera and fine instruments, with the gallbladder brought out through one opening. Pain is generally lower and recovery quicker than after open surgery - Single-incision laparoscopic surgery
all instruments go through one cut, normally at the navel, and it suits only selected patients - Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy
the surgeon operates robotic arms from a console with a magnified 3D view - Open cholecystectomy
one larger cut below the right rib margin, now less common and kept for severe inflammation, dense scarring, bleeding or unclear anatomy - Conversion from keyhole to open
a keyhole operation is sometimes changed midway for safety, and patients are told about this beforehand - Subtotal cholecystectomy
where inflamed tissue makes full removal risky, most of the gallbladder is taken out, and a small cuff is left to protect the bile duct - Bile duct exploration
stones in the common bile duct are cleared in the same operation - ERCP
an endoscope passed through the mouth clears bile duct stones. The gallbladder stays, so it usually goes alongside surgery - Percutaneous cholecystostomy
a drain placed through the skin relieves an infected gallbladder in patients too unwell for surgery, with the operation following once they are fit
Before, During and After Surgery
Before: an ultrasound and blood tests come first, and an MRCP or CT scan may be added if bile duct stones are suspected. The anaesthesia team reviews your history. You are told when to stop eating and which regular medicines, blood thinners especially, to pause.
During: surgery is done under general anaesthesia. The surgeon frees the gallbladder from the liver, secures the cystic duct and artery, and removes it. A dye X-ray of the bile ducts is sometimes taken during the operation to check for stones.
After: early walking and a move from liquids to light meals are usual. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas used in keyhole surgery is common and passes. Fatty food returns slowly, and looser stools can occur at first. Come back to the hospital for fever, worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, yellow eyes or a discharging wound.
Gallbladder Surgery at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, Mumbai
Gallstone care at Kurla starts with finding out what is actually happening in the gallbladder. Scans and blood tests come before any recommendation, and the surgeon tells you in plain terms why a particular route, keyhole, open or staged, suits your condition. Risks and recovery are discussed before consent is taken, not after.
The practical side is explained just as clearly: what the treatment is likely to involve, how the hospital stay is planned and where your insurance stands, so the bill holds no surprises at discharge. The surgical and anaesthesia teams look after you through the operation, you are monitored in recovery, and you go home with written guidance on diet, wound care and warning signs. Where bile duct stones or infection complicate matters, the plan is staged and explained step by step, and follow-up is arranged to review reports and healing. If you live with recurring pain after meals, or have been told you have gallstones, speak to the general surgeons in Kurla at CritiCare Asia Hospitals for further care.