Küster Operation

Küster operation: history and modern application

The Küster operation, also known as the Küster-Fye-Gardner procedure, is one of the most common surgical procedures used to treat gallstones. This operation was named after the German surgeon E. G. Küster, who first described it in 1882.

For Küster's decades, surgery was one of the only procedures available to treat gallstone disease. However, in recent years it has been partially replaced by more minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopic laparoscopy. However, the Küster operation is still widely used in cases where other methods are unavailable or ineffective.

Kuester surgery involves removing the gallbladder, an organ that stores bile needed to digest fats. During the operation, the surgeon makes a small incision in the patient's abdomen and uses a special instrument called a laparoscope to remove the gallbladder. In some cases, gallstones can be removed preoperatively using endoscopy, but in most cases they are removed along with the gallbladder during a Küster operation.

Like any surgical procedure, Küster surgery has its risks and complications. These include bleeding, infection, damage to the bile ducts and other problems. However, thanks to modern technologies and anesthesia methods, the risks of these complications are reduced to a minimum.

In conclusion, although the Kuester procedure was developed more than a century ago, it is still widely used and remains an important procedure for the treatment of cholelithiasis. Thanks to improved techniques and technologies, the procedure has become safer and more effective, allowing many patients to quickly recover and return to normal life.