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What are gallbladder stones?
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped pouch under the liver. It stores bile, a digestive juice made by the liver, and squeezes it into the intestine after meals, especially fatty ones. When bile contains too much cholesterol or pigment, it can harden into stones. These can be as small as sand or as big as a golf ball.
Stones cause problems when they block the outlet of the gallbladder (causing pain or infection) or slip into the bile duct (causing jaundice or pancreatitis).
Symptoms
- Pain in the upper right or middle of the belly, often after a heavy or oily meal, lasting from 30 minutes to a few hours (biliary colic)
- Pain that spreads to the right shoulder or back
- Nausea and vomiting during attacks
- Bloating, heaviness and indigestion after meals (though these are less specific)
- With complications: fever, yellow eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, or severe pain spreading to the back (pancreatitis)
Many people have "silent" stones found by chance on an ultrasound, with no symptoms at all. Bloating and gas alone are often due to other causes, such as acidity or irritable bowel, so removing the gallbladder may not relieve them. Your surgeon will look at your pattern of symptoms before recommending surgery.
Causes and risk factors
- Being female, especially with pregnancies or hormone use
- Age over 40
- Excess weight, and also rapid weight loss (crash diets, after bariatric surgery)
- Diabetes and high triglycerides
- Family history of gallstones
- Diets high in fat and refined carbohydrates, low in fibre
- Liver disease, some blood disorders
When to see a doctor
See a surgeon if you've had one or more attacks of upper belly pain, or if an ultrasound shows stones. Seek urgent care if you have:
- Pain lasting more than a few hours, or with fever and chills
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pale stools
- Severe pain radiating to the back with vomiting
These can be signs of infection of the gallbladder or bile duct, or pancreatitis. The hospital is open 24×7. Call 93196 62944.
How gallstones are diagnosed at Samrijo
- Examination, including tenderness under the right ribs.
- Ultrasound of the abdomen: the main test, which is quick and painless.
- Blood tests in the in-house laboratory: liver function, blood count, amylase/lipase if pancreatitis is suspected.
- MRCP (a special MRI) if stones in the bile duct are suspected.
Treatment options
What to expect
Before
Ultrasound, blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray as needed, and an anaesthesia check. Fast for about six hours. Tell the team about blood thinners and diabetes medicines.
During
Under general anaesthesia, the surgery usually takes about an hour, sometimes longer if the gallbladder is inflamed.
After
Some shoulder-tip pain (from the gas used during surgery) and mild wound pain are common for a day or two. You start with fluids and light food the same day or next. Many patients go home within 24 hours.
Recovery
Walk regularly from the first day. Desk work is often possible within one to two weeks; avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks. A follow-up visit checks the wounds and the tissue report.
Diet before and after surgery
Before surgery, smaller meals with less oil, ghee and fried food can reduce attacks. After surgery, start with light meals such as khichdi, dal, curd, vegetables and fruits, and gradually return to a normal balanced diet over a few weeks. If fatty meals cause loose stools, reduce them for a while. Most people eventually eat as they did before.
Myths and facts
- "Home remedies can flush out gallstones." Olive oil and lemon "flushes" don't remove real stones, and can trigger painful attacks.
- "Homeopathy or ayurveda will dissolve my stones." There is no reliable evidence that such treatments dissolve gallstones.
- "Without a gallbladder I can't digest food." The liver still makes bile. Most people digest food normally after recovery.
- "Laser can remove gallbladder stones." Gallbladder stones are treated by removing the gallbladder laparoscopically, not by laser. Laser is used for some kidney stones.
Why choose Samrijo Hospital
- Laparoscopic surgery centre under Dr. Arun Kumar Patel (MBBS, MS General Surgery).
- Ultrasound and lab in the same building for quick diagnosis.
- 24×7 hospital for attacks, infection or jaundice.
- Clear advice on when surgery is and isn't needed.
Cost of gallbladder stone surgery
The cost depends on planned vs emergency surgery, laparoscopic vs open, bile duct stones, stay, tests and room category, and your insurance or TPA cover. Call 93196 62944 for an estimate.
पित्त की पथरी का ऑपरेशन, बुराड़ी, दिल्ली
पित्ताशय (गॉलब्लैडर) लिवर के नीचे एक छोटी थैली है जिसमें पित्त जमा रहता है। जब पित्त गाढ़ा होकर सख़्त हो जाता है तो पथरी बन जाती है। पेट के ऊपर दाहिनी ओर दर्द (ख़ासकर तला-भुना खाने के बाद), दर्द का पीठ या कंधे तक जाना, उल्टी और भारीपन इसके आम लक्षण हैं। कई लोगों में पथरी होने पर भी कोई लक्षण नहीं होते।
दर्द या संक्रमण होने पर सबसे भरोसेमंद इलाज लैप्रोस्कोपिक कोलेसिस्टेक्टॉमी है, जिसमें 3–4 छोटे छेदों से पित्ताशय पथरी सहित निकाला जाता है। ज़्यादातर मरीज़ उसी या अगले दिन घर जाते हैं और 1–2 हफ़्ते में दफ़्तर का काम शुरू कर देते हैं, हालाँकि रिकवरी हर व्यक्ति में अलग होती है। बुखार, आँखों में पीलापन या बहुत तेज़ दर्द हो तो तुरंत अस्पताल आएँ।
अपॉइंटमेंट के लिए कॉल करें: 93196 62944।
Frequently asked questions
Can gallbladder stones be dissolved with medicine?
Rarely. Some small cholesterol stones may dissolve with long-term medicine, but it works in few people, takes months to years, and stones often come back after stopping. For stones that cause symptoms, removing the gallbladder is the standard treatment.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
Yes. The liver keeps making bile, which flows directly into the intestine. Most people eat normally after recovery. A few notice looser stools after very fatty meals for a while.
Why not remove only the stones and keep the gallbladder?
If only the stones are removed, new stones usually form again in the same gallbladder. Removing the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) treats the cause and prevents repeat attacks.
I have stones but no pain. Do I need surgery?
Many people with "silent" stones never develop problems and can simply be watched. Surgery may be advised in certain situations, for example very large stones, a porcelain gallbladder, polyps, or some people with diabetes. Your surgeon will advise.
How soon can I return to work after laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?
Many people go home the same or next day and return to desk work within about one to two weeks. Heavy lifting usually needs to wait a few weeks longer. Recovery varies from person to person.
What does gallbladder stone surgery cost?
The cost depends on whether surgery is planned or urgent, any complications (such as stones in the bile duct), stay and tests. Call 93196 62944 for an estimate.
पित्त की पथरी में कौन-सा ऑपरेशन होता है?
आम तौर पर लैप्रोस्कोपिक कोलेसिस्टेक्टॉमी की जाती है, जिसमें 3–4 छोटे छेदों से पित्ताशय (गॉलब्लैडर) पथरी सहित निकाला जाता है। ज़्यादातर मरीज़ उसी या अगले दिन घर जा सकते हैं।
क्या गॉलब्लैडर निकालने के बाद खाने-पीने में दिक्कत होती है?
ज़्यादातर लोग कुछ हफ़्तों में सामान्य खाना खाने लगते हैं। शुरू में हल्का और कम तेल वाला खाना बेहतर रहता है।
Related treatments
This page is for general health information only. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for a consultation. Every patient is different, so please consult a qualified doctor about your own condition and treatment. Medical disclaimer.