Cholecystectomy

Abstract

This chapter describes the surgical procedures for open, laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedures in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as that found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: establishing the critical view of safety, making sure the hepatocystic triangle is cleared of fat and fibrous tissue, exposing the cystic plate, and confirming that only two structures are seen entering the gallbladder; ligating and dividing cystic duct and cystic artery and removing gallbladder from the liver bed.