Gallstones

Gallstones in India - When Do You Need Gallbladder Surgery?

Gallstones are common and often do not cause any problems. However, they can sometimes lead to sudden and severe pain or other complications. This short explains the symptoms that suggest your gallstones may need attention.

When gallstones cause symptoms

Many people have gallstones without knowing it. Problems arise when a stone blocks one of the bile ducts.

• Sudden pain. This is the main symptom, known as biliary colic. It is a severe pain in the centre of your abdomen or just under the ribs on your right side.
• Pain duration. An attack of biliary colic can last from a few minutes to several hours. It is often triggered by eating a fatty meal.
• Other symptoms. You may also feel sick or vomit. The pain can sometimes spread from the abdomen to the shoulder blade.
• Complications. If a bile duct remains blocked, it can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), jaundice, or pancreatitis.

Treating symptomatic gallstones

If your gallstones are causing symptoms, the most common treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder.

• Keyhole surgery. This operation is usually performed laparoscopically. The surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen to remove the gallbladder.
• Faster recovery. Recovery from keyhole surgery is usually quick. Most people can go home the same or the next day and return to normal activities within two weeks.
• Open surgery. In a small number of cases, open surgery with a single, larger incision may be required. This may be planned, or it may become necessary during a keyhole procedure.
• Life without a gallbladder. You can live a normal, healthy life without a gallbladder. Your liver will continue to produce bile to digest food, but it will drip continuously into the small intestine instead of being stored.

Whether surgery is the right option for you depends on your specific circumstances and symptoms. A specialist can provide advice after reviewing your medical reports and recent imaging.