Anesthesia for Your Laparoscopic (or Robotic) Cholecystectomy
- Jen Overton
- Jul 14, 2025
- 7 min read
If you’re scheduled for a laparoscopic (robotic) cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), you’re probably dealing with gallstones or abdominal pain. However, the topic of anesthesia, which is often discussed very briefly until the day of surgery, can spark questions or even some anxiety.
Lucky for you, I’m here to guide you through what to expect on the day of your cholecystectomy, explain why general anesthesia is required for this laparoscopic procedure, and describe how a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can help manage pain. Depending on your health, this surgery is often done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day, but some cases may require a short hospital stay. Let’s walk through the process together to ease your mind.
Why Anesthesia Matters for Your Laparoscopic (Robotic) Cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic or robotic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive surgery where your surgeon uses small incisions and a camera (or robotic tools) to remove your gallbladder. Because the procedure involves inflating your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas to create space for the surgeon to work, general anesthesia is required to keep you fully asleep, relaxed, and pain-free. This ensures your muscles are relaxed, your breathing is controlled, and you remain unaware during the surgery, which typically lasts 1–2 hours.
A transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is sometimes used to manage pain at the incision sites, reducing the need for pain medications after surgery. This combination supports a comfortable procedure and a smoother recovery, whether you go home the same day or stay in the hospital.
Below, I’ll explain what happens on the day of surgery, how general anesthesia and the TAP block work, and what you might feel.
Your Day-of-Surgery Anesthesia Experience
Before Surgery: Meeting Your Anesthesia Team
On the morning of your surgery, you’ll arrive at a hospital or outpatient surgical center and check into the preoperative area. Laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomies are often outpatient procedures, meaning you’ll likely go home a few hours after surgery if you’re healthy, stable, and have someone to drive you home. However, if you have other health conditions (like heart or lung issues) or complications arise, a hospital stay of 1–2 days may be recommended for additional monitoring and pain management. Your anesthesia team will discuss this with you based on your health and surgical plan.
In the preoperative area, you’ll meet your anesthesia provider—a nurse anesthetist like me or an anesthesiologist. We’ll review your medical history, medications, and any allergies, and confirm the specific anesthesia plan tailored to your needs. This is your chance to ask questions or share concerns. If you’re feeling nervous, let us know. We can offer reassurance or sometimes mild sedation to help you relax.
Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block: What to Expect
A TAP block is a regional anesthesia technique sometimes used for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to provide targeted pain relief at the abdominal incision sites, reducing discomfort after surgery.
Purpose of the TAP Block
The TAP block numbs the nerves in the abdominal wall, which helps reduce pain from the small incisions made during laparoscopic or robotic surgery. This targeted pain relief can decrease the need for strong pain medications (like opioids), helping you feel more alert and comfortable during recovery. This is especially beneficial for outpatient procedures, as it supports a quicker return home.
The Process
The TAP block is typically performed in the preoperative area or operating room before or after general anesthesia, using ultrasound for precision:
Positioning: You’ll lie on your back, and we’ll expose the side of your abdomen (usually one or both sides, depending on the surgical plan). We’ll ensure you’re comfortable and guide you through each step.
Cleaning and Numbing: We clean the skin on your abdomen (near your midsection) with a cool antiseptic solution. Then, we inject a small amount of local anesthetic to numb the skin, which feels like a quick pinch or sting that fades within seconds.
Ultrasound Guidance: Using an ultrasound wand (painless, like a pregnancy scan), we locate the transversus abdominis muscle layer in your abdominal wall. We then insert a small needle to deliver numbing medication near the nerves that supply sensation to your abdomen. You may feel slight pressure, but it shouldn’t be painful. The process takes about 5–10 minutes per side if bilateral blocks are needed.
What You’ll Feel: If the block is done before general anesthesia, you may notice a warm or numb sensation in your abdomen as it takes effect. If performed while you’re asleep, you’ll wake up with reduced pain at the incision sites. The block may cause temporary weakness in the abdominal muscles, which resolves as it wears off.
If you’re worried about needles or the sensation, let us know—we can distract you with conversation or perform the block while you’re under general anesthesia to ensure you feel nothing.
Want to know more about the different types of anesthesia? Click the image below to read What Is Anesthesia? Understanding the Types and Their Safety.
General Anesthesia: What to Expect
Because laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy requires inflating the abdomen with gas and precise control of breathing, general anesthesia is necessary to keep you fully asleep, relaxed, and pain-free during the procedure.
Purpose of General Anesthesia
General anesthesia ensures you’re completely unaware and comfortable during surgery. It relaxes your muscles, allowing the surgeon to work safely while the abdomen is inflated, and enables us to control your breathing with a breathing tube. This keeps you safe and still, which is critical for the laparoscopic or robotic approach.
The Process
Getting Started: In the operating room, you’ll lie on a padded table, and we’ll place monitors to track your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels using noninvasive devices (like sticky patches or a finger clip).
Falling Asleep: We’ll give you oxygen through a gentle mask over your nose and mouth, then administer anesthesia medication through the IV. Within seconds, you’ll drift off to sleep, like taking a nap.
During Surgery: We place a breathing tube to help you breathe safely, which you won’t feel or remember. We monitor you closely, adjusting medications to keep you stable.
Waking Up: After surgery, we stop the anesthesia, and you’ll wake up in the recovery room. The breathing tube is removed before you’re fully awake, so you won’t notice it.
What You’ll Feel
When you wake up, you may feel groggy, chilly, or have a dry mouth or sore throat from the breathing tube. The TAP block (if used) will reduce pain at your incision sites, though you may still feel some discomfort or bloating from the gas used during surgery. These effects are temporary, and we’ll provide comfort measures or medication as needed.
Still curious about general anesthesia? Click the image below to read General Anesthesia: The Patient Experience from Start to Finish.
Recovery: Outpatient or Inpatient
After surgery, you’ll spend 1–2 hours in the recovery room, where nurses monitor you as you wake up fully. The TAP block (if used) will keep your abdomen numb for several hours, helping with pain control. You may feel mild abdominal soreness or shoulder discomfort (from the gas used in laparoscopy), which we can manage with medications.
If you’re having outpatient surgery—common for healthy patients with good home support—you’ll go home the same day once you’re stable, can move with assistance, and have a ride home. We’ll provide instructions for pain management (e.g., over-the-counter medications or a short-term prescription) and guidance on activity restrictions and diet to support healing.
If a hospital stay is needed (1–2 days), typically for patients with other health conditions or if complications arise, you’ll receive additional monitoring, IV pain medications if necessary, and support to ensure a safe recovery. Your anesthesia and surgical teams will ensure you’re prepared for either scenario.
Why This Combination Works
General anesthesia is required for laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy to keep you safe and comfortable during the procedure, ensuring muscle relaxation and controlled breathing. The TAP block enhances this by providing targeted pain relief at the incision sites, reducing the need for strong pain medications and supporting a smoother, faster recovery. This combination is ideal for outpatient surgery, allowing you to return home the same day with minimal discomfort, but it also supports inpatient recovery if needed.
Alternative Anesthesia Options
Because of the laparoscopic nature of the surgery, general anesthesia is required, but variations in pain management may be considered:
General Anesthesia Alone: If a TAP block isn’t suitable or desirable (e.g., due to specific medical conditions or anatomical factors or preference), general anesthesia alone can provide complete comfort during surgery, with pain managed afterward using oral or IV medications.
Local Anesthesia at Incision Sites: In some cases, the surgeon may inject local anesthetic at the incision sites instead of or in addition to a TAP block to reduce postoperative pain.
Share any preferences or concerns (e.g., about post-surgery pain or recovery) with your anesthesia team. We’ll work with you and your surgeon to create a plan that feels right.
Tips to Prepare and Reduce Anxiety
Feeling prepared can ease your nerves and set you up for a smooth surgery. Here are some tips:
Ask Questions: Write down any concerns about anesthesia or recovery and ask them during your preoperative visit or on the day of surgery. No question is too small.
Practice Relaxation: If you’re anxious, try slow, deep breathing or visualization techniques. We can guide you through relaxation strategies if needed.
Plan for Recovery: Arrange for someone to drive you home (especially for outpatient surgery) and help with tasks for a day or two. Have a comfortable recovery space ready, as recommended by your surgeon.
Trust Your Team: Your anesthesia and surgical teams are dedicated to your safety and comfort. We’ll monitor you closely and adjust care to meet your needs.
Thinking about the cumulative effects of anesthesia? How many is too many? Click on the image below to read How Many Times Is It Safe to Have Anesthesia?
Final Thoughts
Anesthesia for your laparoscopic or robotic cholecystectomy is designed to keep you pain-free and relaxed, allowing your surgeon to remove your gallbladder safely while you focus on a quick recovery. By understanding the need for general anesthesia and the role of the TAP block, as well as whether you’ll recover outpatient or inpatient, you can approach your surgery with confidence. Your anesthesia team is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience as you begin your journey to feeling better.
If you have more questions or want to learn about anesthesia for other procedures, explore this website or talk to your healthcare team. We’re here to help you because prepared patients have better outcomes.
Want to read more Articles about anesthesia? Click the image below to learn more!
**Information provided is intended as general healthcare information for the public and should be used as a guide. This information should not be substituted for the specific personal advice recommended by your own healthcare team who are familiar with your specific health history.*
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