Top Hospitals Abroad for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy at Lower Cost

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in India

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a type of surgical operation that minimally involves the removal of the gallbladder; a small organ located below the liver that stores bile; a digestive fluid. It is done most often to cure gallstones (cholelithiasis), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or other issues in the gallbladder.

What is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

Definition: This is the removal of the gallbladder with the help of a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera) and small surgical instruments that are inserted through small abdominal openings.

Introduction: To treat symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and avoid complications of gallstones or gallbladder disease.

Indications

• The presence of gallstones that generate pain or inflammation.
• Chronic inflammation of the gallbladder (chronic cholecystitis).
• Gallbladder polyps.
• No stones (biliary dyskinesia).
• Gallbladder cancer (in isolated cases, rarely).

Advantages

• Less pain than open surgery.
• Reduced hospital stay (in most cases outpatient or 1-day stay).
• There is quicker recovery (1-2 weeks to normal activity).
• Smaller scars.

Gallbladder removal surgery in India

The usual operation in removing the gallbladder through the least invasive operation is laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. It is done in cases of diseased gallbladder and in the majority of cases is brought about by gallstones or inflammation (cholecystitis).

Surgery Overview

• Type: Minimally invasive (keyhole surgery).
• Time: Typically 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
• Anaesthesia: General anaesthesia (patient is asleep in full).
• Hospital Stay: In most cases same-day discharge or 1 night at hospital.

Surgical Steps

Anaesthesia & Preparation

• The patient is general anesthetized.
• Abdomen sterilized and cleansed.

Creating Access Points

• A total of 3- 4 small incisions (5-10 mm) are created in the abdomen.
• To enhance visibility, carbon dioxide gas is injected into the abdomen.

Introduction of Laparoscope and Instruments

• To display images on a screen, a laparoscope (minuscule camera) is used.
• The other incisions have the insertion of surgical instruments.

Gallbladder Dissection

• The cystic duct (tube that links gallbladder and bile duct) and cystic artery are located, clipped and incised.
• The liver is carefully detached as is the gallbladder.

Removal

• The gallbladder is removed with either of the small incisions (typically the navel).

Closure

• Instruments are removed.
• Gas is released.
• Incisions are stitched or sealed using surgical glue.

Factors Affecting Cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in India

The following are the factors of the Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery cost India:

Hospital Type and Location

• High quality privatized hospitals or foreign hospitals are more expensive than state or middle quality hospitals.
• Generally, hospitals in metro cities are more expensive than in small towns.

Surgeon’s Expertise

• Gastrointestinal/ hepatobiliary surgeons are highly experienced or specialized and could have a higher charge.
• The complexity of cases that demand the involvement of senior specialists also makes it more expensive.

Preoperative Investigations

• Such tests as ultrasound, blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray are typically required prior to surgery.
• Any other diagnostic procedures (CT, MRI, MRCP) increase the overall price.

Type of Surgery

Basic laparoscopic cholecystectomy is often cheaper than:

• Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS).
• Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy.
• Open cholecystectomy (where necessary).

Patient’s Health Condition

Should include patients with diabetes, heart disease, obesity or liver disease:

• Extra precautions.
• Longer operative time.
• Increased price because of ICU treatment or extra monitoring.

Hospital Stay

• Normal cases take 1 day to be discharged.
• Increased hospitalization and overall cost are caused by complications (bile leak, bleeding, infection).

Anaesthesia and Medication

• The pricing depends on the nature of the anaesthesia, the charges by the anaesthetist and the type of drugs.
• There are also post-operative pain treatment and antibiotics which increase expenses.

Consumables & Equipment

• Surgical clips, staplers, laparoscopic instruments, and retrieval bags can be sold at different prices depending on the brand/quality.

Best hospitals for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in India

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon

Artemis Hospital has a department of Liver and Biliary Sciences where laparoscopic cholecystectomy (among other hepatobiliary procedures) is provided. The minimally invasive surgery team of the hospital provides the so-called keyhole (laparoscopic) surgeries with an accent on the modern equipment and qualified surgeons. Artemis is a luxury privately owned hospital having excellent infrastructure of minimal invasive and advanced laparoscopic surgery. They also provide the option of keyhole surgery which is the laparoscopic surgery involving small holes. Their services include robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery that would be helpful in complicated hepatobiliary cases.

Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon

Medanta has a Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery, GI Oncology and Bariatric Surgery department. They include laparoscopic operation such as the removal of the gall bladder (lap cholecystectomy). They also offer multidisciplinary team: GI surgeons, anaesthetists, radiology, hepatobiliary specialists etc. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by using small incisions, whereby a camera and laparoscopy tools are used. Medanta employs these least invasive procedures. The aim is quick healing, reduced pain after surgery and reduced hospitalization than open surgery. This is advertised by Medanta as a service to their GI surgery.

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon

The centres of excellence of FMRI are Minimal Access Surgery / Laparoscopy / Bariatric Surgery among others. The hospital also supports GI Surgery / Gastro Sciences that usually deal with such procedures as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. FMRI, having its reputation and being classified as a super-specialty facility, is likely to have surgeons with experience in laparoscopic surgery of the gallbladder. These assist in mitigating the risks, conducting precise pre-operative imaging, and good postoperative care. FMRI has excellent facilities (individual rooms, on-site diagnostic laboratories, etc.), which not only increases patient comfort but also tends to increase safety.

Max Hospital, Saket

Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket is a 250 bed hospital. It has 12 top line modular operation theatres that are designed to handle the minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgeries. It has a special endoscopy unit, a huge critical care unit (50 critical care bed), a current imaging (256-slice CT, 3.0 Tesla MRI), thus has good diagnostic support. The hospital provides minimally invasive (laparoscopic) operations such as the removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Since it is a super-specialty with strong infrastructure with diagnostic and critical care support, it would be suitable even to more complex cases (such as in the case that the issue with the gallbladder is severe, or in the case where the previous history complicates the situation).

Factors Affecting Affordable laparoscopic cholecystectomy India

The following are the most important determinants that influence the cost effectiveness of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder through laparoscopy):

Infrastructure and type of hospital

• Private versus government versus charity hospitals. The cost of the private hospitals is far more costly. 
• The quality of facilities (operating theatre, ICU, monitoring, surgical instruments) as well as the use of advanced or premium laparoscopic equipment. 
• Accreditation, image and brand equity. Best hospitals are prone to higher charges. 

Geographical location / City

• Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai etc.) are more expensive, powered by the increased overheads, salaries of the staff, cost of property etc. 
• Less advanced areas or smaller towns tend to reduce the cost. 

Knowledge and experience of the surgeon

• Fees may be higher when the position is occupied by more experienced surgeons / specialists who are in high demand. 
• Also the presence of additional costs of specialized laparoscopic procedures. 

Complexity of the case / Patient health status

• In case the disease of the gallbladder is complicated (e.g. acute cholecystitis, gallbladder infection, bile duct stones, obesity, previous surgeries) then the surgery can last more or require further actions. 
• Preexisting ailments such as diabetes, heart disease etc. that predisposes or contributes to more pre-op examination. 

Pre- and post-operative diagnostics and treatment

• Preoperative tests: blood tests, imaging (ultrasound, possibly CT/MR in case of necessity) and liver tests etc. 
• Anaesthesia fees: More complicated anaesthesia (more time or risk) is costly. 
• Length of stay: postoperative medications, pain management, potential complications. Prolonged hospitalization or management of complications increases expenses. 
• Follow-up visits: These can be added or additional. 

Room category and comfort / Amenities

• The general/shared ward, semi-private, private room or deluxe room. Deluxe/ private rooms are more expensive. 
• Additional facilities (meals, attendant facilities etc.) can be added. 

Electrical and technological apparatuses involved

• High-definition or 3D optics, improved laparoscopic instrument sets in use. 
• In case of special devices, consumables, and disposables of high cost. 

Timing of surgery

• Early vs delayed surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy done early (e.g. in acute setting, soon after presentation) is likely to be cost-efficient than delayed methods, due to fewer complications, shorter hospitalization period, and faster recovery. 
• Emergency vs elective operations: emergency ones are more expensive.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy treatment in India GetWellGo

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