Cholecystectomy (/ˌkɔləsɪsˈtɛktəmi/, plural: cholecystectomies,) is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Despite the development of non-surgical techniques, it is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones, although there are other reasons for having this surgery done. Each year more than 500,000 Americans have gallbladder surgery. Surgery options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy. A cholecystectomy is performed when attempts to treat gallstones with ultrasound to shatter the stones or medications to dissolve them have not proved feasible.