Blogs

What do you know about Gallbladder stone?

Medpho Team April 28, 2023

gallblader stone Treatment

Gallbladder stone is a hardened accumulation made from cholesterol, bile pigment and calcium salts, which form in a person's gallbladder. They are formed when the bile secretion concentrates with excessive cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin (bile pigment). These gallstones may range from 5 to 10 mm in diameter, and in the case of very large gallstones, they may occasionally measure up to 5cm in diameter.

In this blog, we have covered gall bladder stone symptoms, causes, complications and its treatment.

Gallbladder stone Symptoms

Different signs or symptoms denote the formation of gallbladder stones when the gallstone gets stuck in the bile duct. The gallbladder stone symptoms may include:

  • A sudden intensifying ache in the upper right portion of the abdomen
  • Fast severe pain in the centre of the stomach, just below the breastbone
  • Back pain between the shoulder blades
  • Pain in the right shoulder
  • Vomiting

Gallbladder stone pain may stay for several minutes to a few hours.

Gallbladder stone causes

The gall bladder is a small organ in the body's abdominal region, where bile, a digestive fluid, is stored. When we consume food, the gallbladder emits bile into the intestines to help it get digested. When cholesterol and bile content is more, the bile becomes too much concentrated and forms hard stones.

Individuals with a family history of gallstones are more inclined to develop these. The next class of people more prone to get gallstones are obese people, those living a sedentary lifestyle or who have high triglyceride levels, and who lose a lot of weight rapidly. There are many studies which reveal women are more likely to have gallstones.

For any information related to free surgery under Ayushman Yojana or any queries regarding Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Contact Medpho on #BasEkCall at 88569-88569.

Gallbladder stone Complications

Different gallbladder stone complications may arise due to :

  • Inflammation of the gallbladder. A gallstone nestled in the neck of the gallbladder can compel gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis). Cholecystitis can cause severe pain and fever.
  • Blockage in the bile duct. Gallbladder stones can choke the duct through which bile flows from your gallbladder or liver to your small intestine. It results in severe pain, jaundice and bile duct infection can result.
  • Pancreatic duct blockage: A gallbladder stone can also cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, directing to pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis). Pancreatitis causes severe, persistent abdominal pain and usually needs hospitalization.
  • Gallbladder cancer. People with a record of gallstones have an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. But gallbladder cancer is sporadic, so even though the risk of cancer is elevated, the likelihood of gallbladder cancer is still minimal.

Gallbladder Stone Symptoms

Gallbladder stone treatment

Gallstones that cause no symptoms do not need any medical treatment. In some instances, such as abdominal surgery for other conditions, doctors may remove your gallbladder if you are at high risk of complications of gallstones. The gallbladder stone treatment depends on the dimension and location of the gallstones but may include:

  • dietary changes – such as limiting or stopping fatty foods and dairy products
  • Lithotripsy – It uses special machine-generated soundwaves to shatter the gallstones. This therapy is helpful in specific centres for the minority of people with small and soft stones.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder stones

Approximately 80 per cent of people with gallstone signs will need surgery. Surgeons may remove your entire gallbladder (cholecystectomy) or may withdraw the stones from bile ducts. The two methods to remove the gallbladder include:

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy - is an advanced method of removing gall bladder stones. In this method, the surgeon makes several small incisions (cuts) through the skin, authorising access to various instruments. The surgeon removes the gallbladder through one of the incisions. For more information about Laparoscopic cholecystectomy read our blog

Open surgery (laparotomy) –In laparotomy, the surgeon makes a wider abdominal incision to reach the gallbladder. The surgeon recommends open surgery when you have scarring from prior operations or have a bleeding disorder.

For any information related to free surgery under Ayushman Yojana or any queries regarding Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Contact Medpho on #BasEkCall at 88569-88569.

Loading...