India, Sept. 2 -- Gallbladder removal or cholecystectomy is among the most commonly performed surgeries in India. A 2026 BMJ Public Health review by Mohite et al., estimated that about 32 lakh cholecystectomies were performed in India in 2022 alone. Extrapolating from these estimates suggests that nearly 1.8 crore people may have undergone this surgery, during the five-year period from 2021 to 2025. India doesn't have a comprehensive national registry of surgeries. Cholecystectomy is often considered a tracer procedure for excess and unnecessary surgeries in India. The implications for patients are important.

Gallbladder removal is, in most cases, performed because of stones in its lumen. These stones, called gallstones, are the hardened...