What are gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores bile. Stones form when bile hardens. They are common, more so in women, after pregnancy, with obesity, diabetes or a family history. Many people have stones for years without knowing.
Symptoms
The typical sign is pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen, often after a fatty meal, lasting from half an hour to several hours, sometimes spreading to the back or right shoulder, with nausea. Fever, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice) or dark urine mean a stone may be blocking a duct or the gallbladder is infected.
Tests
An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is usually all that is needed to see stones. Blood tests check the liver and for infection. If a stone may have moved into the bile duct, further scans or an endoscopic procedure may be advised.
Do stones need surgery?
Stones that have never caused symptoms are often left alone. Once they cause pain attacks, infection, pancreatitis or jaundice, the standard treatment is to remove the gallbladder, medicines do not dissolve most stones reliably, and removing only the stones lets them re-form. You can live normally without a gallbladder.
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal
Through three or four small cuts, the surgeon frees and removes the gallbladder with the stones inside. The operation usually takes about an hour under general anaesthesia. Most patients walk the same evening and go home within one to two days. In a small number of cases the surgeon may need to switch to an open operation for safety.
Recovery and diet
Expect mild pain at the cuts and some shoulder-tip discomfort for a day or two. Light activity in a few days, most normal activity within one to two weeks. Low-fat, smaller meals are easier for the first few weeks; most people return to a normal diet after that.
When to see a doctor straight away
Severe abdominal pain that does not settle, fever with chills, yellow eyes or skin, or persistent vomiting, whether or not you have been diagnosed with stones.
This guide is general information. It cannot replace an examination. If you have symptoms, please see a doctor. Medical disclaimer.
Treatment for this at Disha Hospital: Laparoscopy department.