A History of Cholecystectomy

Benign disease of the gallbladder is common and frequently treated by surgical removal of the gallbladder. Today, cholecystectomy is the most common operation performed by general surgeons, and the majority are done via minimally invasive techniques. However, during the early history of the surgical management of gallbladder disease, cholecystectomy was seldom performed due to perceived risks. We present a historical review of the management of benign gallbladder disease, delineating 4 distinct phases of the surgical approach to the disease. The management of benign gallbladder disease has drastically changed over the last 50 years, and innovations in the care of gallbladder patients have influenced nearly all aspects of abdominal surgery. We argue that the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was a watershed moment in the history of surgery, serving as a gateway procedure for minimally invasive surgery innovations that have occurred since.