Subtotal cholecystectomy deliberately removes most of the gallbladder but leaves a small remnant - typically the portion closest to the common bile duct - rather than risk injury to those structures during a difficult dissection. Standard total cholecystectomy removes the entire gallbladder after safe identification of the cystic duct and artery. Subtotal cholecystectomy comes in two types: reconstituting, where the remaining stump is closed, and fenestrating, where the stump is left open and drained. The choice depends on whether the cystic duct can be safely oversewn. It is a planned, deliberate decision to prioritise patient safety over anatomical completeness.
Written by Dr. Moksha Gowda, MBBS, MS General Surgery, Consultant General and Laparoscopic Surgeon, NiSH Clinic, 48, 7th B Main Road, near Vinayaka Temple, 4th Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru 560011. Phone: +91 9731174360
