Gallbladder-preserving stone removal
In gallbladder-preserving surgery, a surgeon removes the stones through a small cut in the gallbladder, often using a thin camera called a choledochoscope. The gallbladder is left in place. It is practised widely in China but is not a standard option in Canada.
Who it may suit
- Symptomatic gallstones in a gallbladder that still contracts and empties well on testing
- Stones confined to the gallbladder, with no active infection or suspicion of cancer
- People who strongly wish to keep the gallbladder and accept a higher chance of stones returning
What happens
- Ultrasound and other imaging to check stones, gallbladder wall and bile ducts
- Tests of gallbladder function and your general health
- Surgery under general anaesthesia, usually with small incisions
- Dietary advice and regular ultrasound checks after surgery
About 1 to 2 weeks in China.
In Canada, keyhole removal of the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is the standard and is widely available.
How it works
Gallstones form when substances in bile harden. Most people with stones never need treatment. When stones cause repeated pain or complications, the international standard is to remove the gallbladder by keyhole surgery. People live normally without it, although some have looser stools for a while.
Gallbladder-preserving surgery takes a different view. The stones are removed, often through a small opening in the gallbladder with a choledochoscope, and the organ stays. The idea is that a working gallbladder is worth keeping. The difficulty is that whatever caused the stones is still there.
A Chinese study of 145 patients reported that stones returned in about 1 in 10 over three years. The estimated rate was 7.8% at three years and 12.5% at five years. The risk was higher with mixed stones and an irregular diet, and the authors advised against the operation when both were present. This was a single-centre retrospective study. Medical sources note that stones often return and that this is the main reason surgeons advise removing the gallbladder.
Potential advantages
- The gallbladder and its normal storage of bile are kept
- For some people, this fits a strong personal wish to avoid organ removal
- Small incisions and a short recovery in selected cases
- Suitable people may avoid long-term changes some report after gallbladder removal
- A repeat operation is still possible if stones return
What to prepare for a specialist review
- Abdominal ultrasound reports and images, and any CT or MRI
- Blood tests including liver tests and cholesterol
- History of gallstone attacks, infections or pancreatitis
- Any report on how well your gallbladder empties
- List of medicines and previous abdominal surgery
- A clear note of what your Canadian surgeon has advised and why
Questions to ask the treating team
- Why am I a suitable candidate when standard gallbladder removal is available?
- What is your own recurrence rate and how long are patients followed?
- What happens if stones return, and who would manage it at home?
- How is my gallbladder function assessed?
- What diet and follow-up scans do you advise afterwards?
Things to know. Stones come back in a meaningful share of patients. One study reported about 12.5% at five years, higher with mixed stones and irregular eating. Removing the gallbladder prevents this. We are still confirming which Chinese hospitals currently offer this to international patients.
Why an introduction matters
Many of China’s leading specialists work in busy public hospitals without international patient offices. They rarely answer enquiries from abroad directly, and a file sent without an introduction often goes unread. Cases usually reach them through people they already know and trust. Our team on the ground makes that introduction, presents your case properly in Chinese, and follows up until you have an answer.
Related pages
Sources: Reconsideration of indications for choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery and recurrence prevention (Videosurgery and Other Miniinvasive Techniques) · Mayo Clinic: Gallstones, diagnosis and treatment · NHS: Gallstones, treatment
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.
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