The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ and situated at the right side of the liver. Bile is created by the liver and stored and concentrated in the gallbladder.

The gallbladder releases bile to aid in digestion after a meal. The common bile duct, or CBD, receives bile from the small intestine through a short tubular tube known as the bile duct.

What are Gallstones?

When the gallbladder cannot empty correctly continually because the bile’s cholesterol crystallises. Gallstones (Cholelithiasis), also known as gallbladder stones, are crystals that wrongly form in the gallbladder or bile ducts and are composed of calcium salts, cholesterol, and bile pigments. The bile duct can become blocked by gallstones, which is quite painful. Stones and polyps may develop when the gallbladder’s wall is diseased, among other reasons.

Also Read : Laproscopic Gallbladder Surgery in Delhi

Causes Of Gallstones 

We list the most typical causes of cholelithiasis below.

• Gallstones are more prone to occur in overweight people.
• Hormone replacement medication, birth control pills, or excessive oestrogen can raise bile cholesterol levels, impede gallbladder emptying, and cause gallstones.
• Gallstones can form in biliary infection sufferers.
• Excessive dieting can also make gallstone formation more likely, and the use of specific cholesterol-lowering medications.
• Obesity
• Extended fasting
• Rapid loss of weight
• Diabetes
• Genetic blood conditions

Symptoms

Acute stomach discomfort is one of the gallstone symptoms and is sometimes referred to as a gallstone “attack” (colic) due to how quickly it occurs. Gallstone attacks are common and typically occur after fatty meals and can happen during the day. An ordinary attack may cause: 

• A severe, rapidly worsening, and prolonged discomfort in the right upper abdomen.
• Back discomfort between the shoulder blades
• Pain under the right shoulder
• Diarrhoea or nauseousness

Additional minor gallstone symptoms include: 

• Gas production or stomach bloating 
• Intolerance for fatty foods
• Digestive Belching

Complications From Untreated Gallstones

Acute Cholecystitis: An infection of the gallbladder that causes severe, hours-long right upper abdominal pain.

Gallbladder Rupture: The gallbladder wall may occasionally rupture because of acute inflammation and pus formation, especially in diabetics.

Jaundice: Gallstones that go into the bile ducts might cause jaundice.

Pancreatitis: A potentially dangerous condition known as pancreatitis arises when gallbladder stones enter the pancreatic duct.

Gallbladder Cancer: When gallbladder stones have been present for a long period, gallbladder cancer may manifest.

Gallstones Diagnosis

The doctor, typically diagnosed during your initial consultation gallstones, will also ask you questions about your symptoms and your family’s history of gallbladder stones.

A doctor will perform a physical exam and recommend some techniques to find the gallstones. The doctor will examine the patient physically, ask about their food, and feel for any abdominal pain. The following tests can diagnose gallstones:

Blood tests: To determine the level of bilirubin in your blood and evaluate the condition of your liver.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): During this procedure, a tiny camera is inserted into your GI system to help the doctor find gallstones that have been stuck in your bile duct.

Abdominal Ultrasonography and CT scan: For more reliable imaging of the gallbladder to identify gallstones, these imaging techniques are used.

Gallstones Treatment & Surgery

Until one gets an ultrasound, gallstones are not discovered. It does not select surgery for the gallbladder until symptoms show up.

Symptomatic Management

• Treatment of pain symptoms using oral or injectable analgesics.
• There is currently no medical treatment for gallstones that can effectively treat the condition. For treating the infection and overcoming the initial attack, supportive medicines and injectable or oral antibiotics are offered.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Only in exceptional circumstances, such as when a patient’s condition prevents anaesthesia and surgery, are non-surgical methods of treating gallbladder stones employed. As it just relieves symptoms, this does not cure the patients.

Surgical Treatments

• Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder and its stones) – This is the most popular kind of treatment which requires just minor incisions to ensure a quicker recovery. Frequently, patients are released from the hospital the day after surgery or the following morning.

• Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery – A single 2 cm incision is made in the navel, through which we inserted three ports of 5 mm size during this procedure. The procedure is technically difficult and is only appropriate for “simple gallbladder.”

• Mini Laparoscopic Chole – Three 2/3 mm incisions are needed in the upper belly, and one 10 mm port for this procedure. Mini laparoscopy has various advantages over laparoscopic cholecystectomy, including less post-operative pain, scarless, stitch-free procedure, and a shorter hospital stay. 

Cost Of Gallbladder Removal Surgery in Delhi

The cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Delhi ranges from ₹ 40, 000 – ₹ 65,000 and up. However, the overall cost of gallstone removal surgery varies significantly depending on several factors, such as:

• Surgery consultation and operating room costs
• Size & number of gallstones
• Preoperative diagnostic test costs
• Type of surgical procedure used
• Choice of the hospital (public or private)
• Charges of hospital beds
• Cost of prescription medicines
• Fees for follow-up consultations

Conclusion

People who receive a diagnosis of gallstones worry and attempt to choose medical treatments, but surgery is the only available form of treatment. Gallstones that are left untreated are a catastrophe waiting to happen, but they are easily treatable with a quick laparoscopic operation to remove the gallbladder. It is a daycare treatment where, if all goes according to plan, you recover quickly and are released the following day. If you are exhibiting any symptoms of gallstones or have further queries regarding gallstones and their treatment, reach out to your healthcare professional as they can guide you with the course of treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can people live without their gallbladders?

Yes, people can live without the gallbladder, which is a good thing. Dietary changes aren’t necessary to lose weight. They create bile in the liver, therefore, A is unaffected even when the gallbladder is removed. As before, the liver’s bile aids in food digestion.

What would happen if a stone were to slip into the Common Bile Duct (CBD)?

The slipping of the stone(s) in CBD may cause discomfort, jaundice, or both. In order to remove the stone in this case, an endoscopy (ERCP) is necessary. Preferably, this should be carried out before surgery. But they might also carry it out following the procedure.

Read More

• Why Is My Stomach Bigger After Gallbladder Surgery?
• Gallbladder Disease And Its Symptoms: Understanding When Surgery Is Necessary
• How Much Does Laparoscopic Surgery Cost In Delhi?
• Gallbladder Stones – Causes, Treatment & Surgery
• How Much Does It Cost For Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Removal?
• Foods To Eat And Avoid During The Recovery Period After Gallbladder Surgery
• Can Gallbladder Removal Surgery Cause Digestive Problems?
• Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery in Delhi