Bailout surgeries, such as fenestrating or reconstituting subtotal cholecystectomies (STC), are employed when extensive fibrosis or inflammation of the cystohepatic triangle prohibits safe dissection. The two STC procedures have raised concerns about potential complications. Notably, bile leaks have been identified as a frequent complication after fenestrated STC, leading to prolonged hospital admissions and additional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. Additionally, the occurrence of a "smaller gallbladder" following reconstituting STC has raised apprehensions about remnant cholecystitis and the need for a completion cholecystectomy. This study aims to compare outcomes between the two STC procedures.Retrospectively compiled data on all STC procedures performed at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network between 1999 and 2021 were analyzed using SPSS (IBM, NY, Version 28). Out of 99 cases, 84 patients underwent a reconstituting STC, and 15 underwent a fenestrating STC. Biliary leaks were recorded in 17% of reconstituting and 7% of fenestrating STC cases (p=0.320). Among patients who underwent a reconstituting STC, 4.7% (n=4) presented to the ED with biliary colic, and 3.6% (n=3) underwent completion cholecystectomy. The fenestrating group had significantly higher rates of post-operative bleeding than the reconstituting group (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in other post-operative complications between the two STC approaches.These results support both STC approaches in managing difficult gallbladders. Given the risk of reoperation with a reconstituting cholecystectomy, albeit quite low, we recommend a fenestrating STC as the preferred approach when performing an STC.