A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ located beneath the liver, which stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. Bile is necessary for the digestion of fats. A cholecystectomy may be recommended when a patient is suffering from gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder, or other gallbladder-related conditions. The most common procedure for cholecystectomy is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy . In this procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light at the end. This allows the surgeon to view the gallbladder and surrounding organs on a video monitor. The gallbladder is then removed using special instruments. The laparoscopic approach to gallbladder removal has several advantages. It is less invasive than traditional open surgery, requiring only a few small incisions. This leads to less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster r