What are the reasons and risk factors for Gallbladder stones?
The gall bladder is a small pear-shaped organ situated below the lower border of the liver and is involved in the storage of bile juices. These bile juices are produced by the liver and a small part of bile juice is stored in the gallbladder. This bile juice aids in digestion and released upon stimulation of the indigestion of food. Bile Juice contains cholesterol and Bile salts produced by the liver. The Indian dietary meals having high fat and cholesterol in the form of various food products is a source of cholesterol deposition in the form of crystals ultimately leading to the formation of the gall bladder stones. Most of the gallstones are formed because of cholesterol crystals with very less numbers forming because of the lysis of blood cells and superadded infection.
What are the symptoms of Gallbladder stone disease?
The gallstones can remain silent for many years without any symptoms and can increase in number and size with time. However, added infection in gallbladder or obstruction of the gallbladder with stones can give rise to the following symptoms.
- Pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
- Pain associated with nausea and vomiting
- High-grade fever
- Yellowish discoloration of eyes, nails, palms, and soles (Jaundice)
- Low appetite and fullness of abdomen
- Recurrent episodes of pain because of infection
- Lump in the upper abdomen
What are investigations for gallbladder stone disease?
Ultrasonography – The ultrasonography of the abdomen is the Investigation of the choice for diagnosis and confirmation of gallbladder stones. It can exactly determine the size and number of stones and associated problems of the abdomen.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)- This is usually done in cases of jaundice and suspected gallbladder stones for cancer.
What is the treatment for gallbladder stones?
There is no definitive medical treatment for gallbladder stone disease and surgery remains the definitive treatment. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery
(Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ) is the treatment of choice. This surgery can also be performed in Daycare settings or at maximum requires one or two days of hospital stay.
The surgery has minimal risks and lifestyle after surgery is normal patients can resume their activities as they feel pain-free.The patients can resume their normal routine after a couple of days.
Book your appointment for the best General and laparoscopic surgery with Dr. Saurabh Bansal in Delhi NCR, India.
