Is Surgery Necessary for Gallstones?

The gallbladder is one of the crucial organs in the human body’s digestive system. Dr. S. Sathasivam, Surgical Gastroenterologist and Medical Director of Karur Gastro Foundation, explains the treatment for gallstones in this gall bladder.
The gall bladder is located in the right upper part of the abdomen below the liver. The gallbladder has a structure that contracts and expands like a small balloon. Bile is stored in the gallbladder when food is not consumed. Bile water reaches the small intestine through the bile ducts when food is consumed. After a few hours, the gallbladder begins to store bile again. Gallstones are hard, pebble-like stones that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones can be as small as a small dot or as large. Most are smaller than one inch (2.5 cm).

Symptoms

Pain occurs when gallstones block the biliary tract and the flow of bile.
Gallbladder pain occurs in the right upper abdomen under the ribs. Sometimes it can even be felt in the chest. The patient might have Nausea, vomiting, and right shoulder or back pain.
The pain subsides when the gallstones fall back into the gallbladder structure of the tract and is relieved.
If you have the first attack of gallstone pain, you are more likely to have more symptoms in the future. When pain persists the following problems can develop which can be life-threatening

Cholecystitis (Acute Cholecystitis)

Cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder. It occurs when a stone completely blocks the bile duct and fails to dislodge from the biliary tract even after 4hours.
Acute cholecystitis is a condition that requires immediate intensive care in a hospital and treatment requires painkillers and highly specialized antibiotics. Emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard surgery for this condition.

Choledo Cholithiasis

This problem can develop when one or more gallstones leave the gallbladder and block the flow of bile in the main bile ducts. This causes jaundice, pain, and fever. Bacterial infection of the bile ducts from obstruction causes fever and chills. It can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
ERCP or laparoscopic removal of stone (CBD exploration) with Gallbladder removal is the standard of the case.

Biliary Pancreatitis

If gallstones block the pancreatic duct it may result in Acute pancreatitis. This leads to severe abdominal pain. This is also a life-threatening condition and requires immediate intensive care treatment followed by definitive surgical treatment.

Treatment

Cholecystectomy- Surgical removal of the gallbladder

Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder and it is the gold standard treatment for gallbladder. It is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world. The surgery is performed after you are given general anaesthesia. Humans can survive without a gall bladder. Gallbladder removal does not cause any problems with the digestion of food.
Open cholecystectomy has been the standard for many years in the past.
Surgery is performed through a 10cm incision in the skin and abdominal wall. However, in most people, surgery is now performed using small instruments and a video camera. They are made through small holes instead of a large incision in the abdomen. This is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It is a very safe surgery when performed by qualified doctors. There are lasting benefits from having this surgery. Please consult the doctor, if you are diagnosed with gallstones. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy benefits are less or almost no scar, very minimal pain, early intake of food, and early recovery. Patients can even go home on the same day of the surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy results in very less lost days of work thereby proving more economical to the patient.
It can prevent the above-mentioned life-threatening effects due to gallstones from occurring.
Gallstones can be painless and can be checked for other problems depending on the stones found during the scan. He said that surgery is the only solution if there is pain due to gallstones.