Water, a powerful tool in surgery

Inflammation of the gallbladder, also known as acute cholecystitis, may be caused by infection and inflammation of the gallbladder wall due to bile stasis, with or without gallstones. It is one of the most common surgical procedures that are performed laparoscopically. Gangrenous gallbladders are one of the most difficult conditions to treat clinically and surgically, being the cause of many medical malpractice litigations. Gangrenous gallbladders constitute 15% of all laparoscopic surgeries, with the cost of these surgeries being approximately $48,000, compared to other laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries being around $7,000. Dr. Dinesh Vyas and his team have worked together to develop the novel HydroLap, which is a tool that utilizes hydrodissection technology during laparoscopic cholecystectomies to remove the delicate, dead tissue while preserving the healthy tissue of surrounding structures. This decade-long journey began in the operating room and resulted in an innovation that is awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in 2023.