A surgical procedure in which a surgeon makes an opening into the gallbladder to remove gallstones or drain fluid.
From Greek 'chole' (bile) + 'kystis' (bladder) + '-tomy' (cutting). The term emerged in medical terminology during the 19th century as surgical techniques advanced.
Doctors use this procedure when gallstones are too large or risky to remove through the normal bile duct route—basically they create a new opening to access the problem directly.
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