Gallstones are a common disorder that occurs in the biliary system mainly the gallbladder and the biliary tract (bile ducts that carry the bile from the liver to the small intestine).
Gallstones usually do not cause any symptoms and do not require treatment. However, big gallstones may cause blockage and severe abdominal pain and you may require medical intervention or surgery like a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Gallstones also known as cholelithiasis are hard, stone-like masses that form in the gallbladder or the biliary tract.
Your gallbladder releases a digestive fluid called bile that helps in the digestion. The bile contains cholesterol and bilirubin that can crystalize and form small pieces of stones. Sometimes these stones can be small like a grain of sand or may be big like a golf ball.
Big gallstones may travel and block the bile ducts causing complications such as sharp abdominal pain, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), or other infections.
Gallstones are more common in people at the age of 40 or more.
There are mainly three types of gallstones:
Cholesterol stones are the most common and comprise 80% of the gallstones. They are generally yellowish-green in colour and are mostly found in obese people and women.
They are mostly found in people with liver conditions like biliary tract infections or cirrhosis of the liver. These stones are usually small and black or dark brown.
They are very common and contain salts and cholesterols.
Certain people are at greater risk of developing gallstones:
Gallstones are usually not a serious problem. However, if they block the gallbladder, they can cause major complications.
When gallstones obstruct the normal flow of bile to the gallbladder, it can cause acute or long-term (chronic) infection of the gallbladder. This condition is known as cholecystitis.
Gallstones can also obstruct the bile ducts and can cause jaundice. Signs of jaundice include yellowing of the skin in the eyes and dark, yellow urine.
If the gallstones block the pancreatic duct in the pancreas, it causes inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis.
Both pancreatitis and jaundice can be fatal.
Most people do not have any symptoms. This condition is called asymptomatic or silent gallstones.
Complications occur if there is an infection, inflammation, or blockage that increases the pressure in the bile ducts. This leads to gallbladder attacks.
Gallbladder attacks or pain is also known as biliary colic. This pain occurs suddenly in the right upper part of your abdomen and may last for a few minutes to several hours. The pain is intensified with fatty foods or dairy products.
Biliary colic symptoms include:
If you are experiencing gallbladder attacks or any of the above symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help.
Don't just jump into a surgery because your doctor is advising you to go for it. Consult our doctors to know if you need a surgery at all. Rest assured, we WON'T recommend you surgery unless it's the last resort.
Not all gallstones need surgery. Silent gallstones are asymptomatic and do not cause any problems.
Cholesterol stones may not need a surgical intervention; however, pigment stones need surgery.
Surgery is required if gallstones are causing complications or to prevent the recurrence of gallstones in the future.
Symptoms like excessive pain, intolerance to fatty foods, jaundice, or pancreatitis may need surgery.
Gallstone surgery involves the removal of the gallstones and the gallbladder. A gallbladder is removed to prevent the recurrence of gallstones.
A laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is a minimally invasive surgery that removes the gallstones by making small incisions in the abdomen. The surgery is usually done in daycare facilities and you can go home after a few hours or a day depending on your post-operative condition. An open cholecystectomy is done if the condition cannot be cured with laparoscopic surgery.
Gallstone treatment depends on a few factors such as:
Oral dissolution therapy administers medications to break down and dissolve the gallstones. They are used to treat patients whose symptoms are not severe, the gallstones are small in size, are not obstructing the bile flow, or the gallbladder function is normal.
Medications dissolve the gallstones and prevent the formation of gallstones. Treatment may take a few months to a year, however, there are chances of recurrence of gallstones.
The doctor uses a machine called a lithotripter that generates high-energy shock waves to break down the gallstones. This is usually done to treat small gallstones.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an excellent treatment for patients who cannot undergo surgery.
This is another treatment for patients classified as high-risk and are ineligible for surgical procedures.
In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a catheter to inject a solvent to dissolve the gallstones.
Another way is to open the gallbladder and the surgeon uses a device called cholecystoscope to dilate the bile tract and remove the gallstones.
In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a stent through the gallbladder into the duodenum and relieves the symptoms.
Surgery is the best option to treat gallstones. It is the permanent cure for gallstones and stops the reoccurrence of the disease.
Surgery is categorized broadly into two types:
The best way to prevent gallstones is to take regular care of your health and diet. Here are a few easy ways:
Cholesterol is the main reason for gallstone formations. Eat food that is low in cholesterol and saturated fats. Remove fatty foods from your diet like cheese, sausages, red meat, cream, cakes, biscuits, etc.
A balanced diet should include a lot of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and a lot of water.
Avoid skipping meals or fasting during the day.
Avoid sugary foods. Limit the consumption of alcohol.
Obesity can cause gallstones. Maintain a healthy weight by eating nutritious and fiber-rich food. Avoid rapid weight-loss programs and crash diets as they may increase cholesterol levels.
It is best to consult your doctor and a nutritionist and lose weight steadily and slowly.
Regular exercises or brisk walks can be good for your overall health. A regular exercise regime can help you lose weight and cholesterol and reduce the risks of gallstones.
If you are overweight or are suffering from high cholesterol, consult your doctor. Doctors may prescribe medications that reduce the risks of high cholesterol.
Certain drugs used in hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives can cause gallstones.
Gallstones normally pass through the bile ducts and are excreted from our body. Usually, they do not give rise to any problems.
They can be dangerous if they are larger in size and cause pain, obstruction, inflammation, or infection. Study shows that there is only a 2% chance of the asymptomatic gallstones to develop complications and become symptomatic.
Doctors feel that when the larger gallstones start moving, they can get stuck in the soft tissues of the biliary system.
Gallbladder attacks cause excruciating pain and it is an alarming symptom for gallbladder removal. You must seek immediate medical help if you are experiencing pain and other symptoms of infection or inflammation.
Maintain a healthy weight
If you want to lose weight, do it slowly and steadily
Call your doctor if you have a fever with abdominal pain
Eat fatty foods
Go for a crash diet or fast for long periods
Consume alcohol
