### Human:\nhow are gallstones treated?\n\n### Assistant: gallstones are usually treated with surgery to take out the gallbladder. the traditional operation is called an open cholecystectomy. a more recently developed procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less invasive has fewer complications and is used in most cases. laparscopic cholecystectomy. during this procedure instruments and a light and a camera are passed through several small incisions in the abdomen. the surgeon views the inside of the body by looking at a video monitor. this procedure is used in approximately 80% of gallbladder removals. after the surgery the patient spends the night in the hospital. open cholecystectomy. this is a more invasive procedure in which the surgeon makes incisions in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. the patient stays in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. if gallstones are in the bile ducts endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp) may be used to find and remove them before or during gallbladder surgery.