Surgical Milestone: Surgeons at Aster RV Hospitals Achieve Milestone with Removal of 345 Gallstones

 by Priya Jadhav

Bangalore, November 2023: 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.

About Aster DM Healthcare : Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in GCC and in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare through our 34 hospitals, 127 clinics, 527 pharmacies (Including 255 Pharmacies in India operated by Alfaone Retail Pharmacies Private Limited under brand license from Aster), and 229 labs and patient experience centers in seven countries, including India. We have 31,222 dedicated staff including 3,998 doctors and 9,204 nurses across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: “We’ll treat you well.” We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the “Aster”, “Medcare” and “Access” brands.