Gallbladder surgery

SPIDER Surgery:
Advancing Minimally Invasive Cholecystectomy

Maggie, actual SPIDER patient.

Hear a patient’s story about gall bladder removal with SPIDER.James talks about his fast recovery from gallbladder surgery.

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Hear about a minimally invasive cholecystectomy with SPIDER.Hear about Zoila’s gallbladder removal and hernia repair with the SPIDER.
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Hear a patient’s story about minimally invasive gall bladder surgeryMaggie talks about the minimal scarring patients experience with SPIDER Surgery.

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Watch this video to see how SPIDER Surgery works. View this step-by-step slideshow to see how SPIDER Surgery works.
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See SPIDER featured on the popular television show The DoctorsThe Doctors examine new medical advances including the TransEnterix SPIDER Surgical System for weight loss surgery.  watch video

See how patients can benefit from SPIDER Surgery.See the benefits of a less invasive surgery using the SPIDER Surgical System. view brochure

SPIDER® Cholecystectomy

SPIDER Cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive surgical method used to remove the gallbladder.

Gallbladder removal is one the most common surgical procedures performed in the world. There can be many conditions which lead to a medical recommendation of a cholecystectomy. Two of the most common are gallstones and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).

Cholecystectomies are most commonly done laparoscopically, where a surgeon utilizes several incisions to introduce long rigid instruments into the abdomen to perform the surgery. With the advance of SPIDER Surgery, the surgeon may make one small incision, usually hidden in the belly button and introduce multiple flexible instruments through that incision in order to complete the same procedure.

How is SPIDER surgery different from traditional
laparoscopic surgery?

Traditional laparoscopic surgery usually requires multiple incisions. SPIDER Surgery can reduce this number, in many cases to a single incision.Traditional laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery usually requires multiple incision.  SPIDER Sleeve can often be performed through a single incision through your belly button.

Potential benefits of SPIDER Cholecystectomy

Patients may benefit from excellent aesthetic results, minimal pain and a quick recovery by utilizing the SPIDER minimally invasive surgical method.

How does SPIDER work?

A SPIDER procedure begins when the surgeon makes one incision, usually inside the umbilicus (belly button), and inserts the SPIDER Surgical System. Once SPIDER is in the patient’s abdomen, the surgeon opens it up, like an umbrella. The surgeon then inserts a camera and other necessary instruments through SPIDER. When the surgeon has completed the procedure, he or she closes SPIDER and withdraws it through the same incision.

What happens in a SPIDER Cholecystectomy procedure?

The surgeon begins the procedure by grasping the gallbladder and positioning it so that it is exposed from its usual position under part of the liver. The surgeon carefully dissects around the area where the ducts and blood vessels leading to the gallbladder are located. The surgeon then clearly dissects around these structures to provide a critical view of the gall bladder's key structures. This is necessary to ensure that the cystic duct and cystic artery are clipped and divided, while the common bile duct is preserved. Once the cystic duct and cystic artery are divided, the gallbladder is dissected away from the liver. Then the surgeon removes the gall bladder through the same small incision along with the SPIDER Surgical System and all instruments. The incision is then closed and the patient moves to recovery.

To learn more or to find a surgeon offering SPIDER Cholecystectomy, request more information here.


As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Patients should speak with their doctors about those risks and what they should expect individually in terms of the surgery, incisions, and recovery time. Your surgeon may utilize more than one incision if deemed necessary during the surgical procedure.

This information has been reviewed by an independent physician.