Gallbladder / gallstone removal (cholecystectomy) at Spire Sussex Hospital

At Spire Sussex, we provide high-quality treatments and services and are extremely proud to be rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for our private hospital care.

If you need your gallbladder removed to relieve complications due to gallstones, our consultants can provide you with a personalised treatment and recovery plan. You can expect to receive high-quality care in a clean, comfortable environment.

We offer fast access to diagnostic tests and scans, consultations and treatments.

Keyhole surgery

We usually offer keyhole surgery for gallbladder removal – also known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During this procedure, your consultant will make small incisions (cuts) and use small surgical instruments to remove your gallbladder. It often results in a faster recovery time, less time in hospital and more discrete scars than with open surgery.

Open surgery

While keyhole surgery is most often performed, it’s not suitable for everyone. Open surgery involves a larger incision and a longer recovery time and hospital stay. Your consultant will let you know if you may need open surgery - such as if you've had previous surgery to your abdomen. Occasionally, during a keyhole procedure, your consultant may not be able to access or remove your gallbladder and so may need to convert to an open surgery to complete the removal. Your consultant will explain this to you beforehand and answer any questions you might have.

Coming into hospital

We're situated near Hastings, the nearest railway stations are Hastings Town and Battle, both approximately three miles away, or 10 minutes by car. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Meeting your consultant

Your appointments will take place in one of our six private consultation rooms. When you meet your consultant, they’ll discuss your symptoms and any previous diagnosis you may have had. If you haven’t already been diagnosed, they may recommend additional tests and scans to help them decide the best treatment for you.

Your consultant will explain:

• How the procedure works
• What anaesthetic you’ll need
• The potential benefits and risks of gallbladder removal
• Your pre-operative assessment

When you arrive at the hospital for your operation, you’ll meet the multidisciplinary team that will be looking after you.

Anaesthetic

You’ll be given anaesthetic for the operation. This is usually a general anaesthetic where you’ll be completely asleep – this is used most often for keyhole surgery. If necessary, you may have a spinal, epidural or local anaesthetic, where you’ll be awake but won’t be able to feel any pain in the area being operated on.

The procedure

Gallbladder removal typically takes between one and two hours for keyhole surgery. It’s often a little longer for open surgery.

Your hospital stay

If you’re having keyhole surgery, you won’t usually need to stay overnight. After your operation, you’ll be taken to an en-suite, private room to recover until your consultant is happy for you to go home. This is usually as soon as you're fit for discharge.

If you have open surgery, you’ll need to stay in hospital for around three to five nights. You’ll stay in one of our private, en-suite rooms, which will have:

• TV
• Window
• Armchair
• WiFi

After your operation, you’ll probably feel some pain and discomfort. You’ll be given medication to manage this, and advice about over-the-counter painkillers you can take once you’re home.

Your consultant will give you advice about your recovery. Everyone recovers differently, but here’s a typical recovery timeline: