Plural of cholecystotomy; surgical procedures in which the gallbladder is cut open to remove gallstones or examine its contents.
From Greek 'chole' (bile) + 'cysto-' (bladder) + '-tomy' (cutting). The '-tomy' suffix in medicine means 'surgical incision or cutting into.'
Before modern cholecystectomy (removing the entire gallbladder), surgeons would just cut it open and scoop out the stones—like removing apples from a barrel through a hole. It was less invasive but left behind the dangerous organ.
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