Robotic gallbladder removal

[Marigoldsbloom]

Having my gallbladder removed this week by a robot. Saw a thread from a couple of weeks ago about gallbladder removal in general (very helpful - thank you), but keen to hear experiences from those who have had the robotic procedure. It’s robotic as it is higher risk due to a very large gallstone

Sorry you are having no luck with this, OP. Has your surgeon been helpful or not?

I wonder if the procedure is done fairly infrequently, so that relatively few people have feedback to offer?

Anyway, best wishes for your surgery.

Thank you! Surgeon is helpful. I think it is quite a new procedure too. It’s happening tomorrow. I had one helpful private message too. Thanks for commenting

Wow, that soon!

Glad you have had a PM and very best wishes.

Not the same, but I've had both a left hemicolonectomy with resection (half my bowel removed and the ends joined up again) and a hysterectomy done robotically in the last two years and both went very well - the recovery is much quicker than if they have to completely open you up - just a few small incisions about an inch long.

It's not really true to say that it's 'done by a robot'. Rather that the surgeon sits at a screen and manipulates the various tools needed to perform the operation via robotic 'hands' rather than directly. I watched some videos to show how it worked, but not sure where they were now.

I hoep all goes well for you - I'm sure it will

I realise the OP will have had their surgery now, but for others interested, here's a video which explains how 'robotic assisted surgery' is carried out

All done - thank you for your help. It was a tricky procedure, even with the robotic assistance. I have four small incisions and then a larger one under my belly button. Feeling very grateful to have had this done as a routine op rather than in an emergency

I have one large gallstone, or at least I did when scanned a decade ago, for something else. So far no problems but I do worry about it. Were you getting a lot of pain OP ?

No - not really, but at the start of May it became inflamed. Had had it for at least 20 years. Had always been told not to worry about it but after that incident I saw a different consultant and he said it had to go. Due to its size, it was a very tricky procedure. Do you know how big yours is?