GALLSTONE TREATMENT
Gallstones or gall bladder stones are common in middle aged females, especially obese. Also seen commonly in sedentary workers, gallstones may be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Gallstones or gall bladder stones are common in middle-aged females, especially obese. Also seen commonly in sedentary workers, gallstones may be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Acute Pain –Gallstones may try to slip down which typically happens after a fatty meal, these stones may get stuck in the bile duct and cause right upper abdominal and back pain which is severe, intermittent spasmodic. The stone may get stuck producing acute cholecystitis a condition of severe gall bladder inflammation and may get infected. This is a complicated situation especially in diabetics as the infection spreads fast. A slipped stone may also produce acute pancreatitis which is inflammation of the pancreas which may be life-threatening at times
What are the investigations for gallstones?
Ultrasound of the abdomen is the easiest and readily available investigation which can diagnose gallstones. Apart from that CT scan or MRI can also help in doubtful cases.
What is the treatment of Gallstones?
No medicine can cure or dissolve gallstones, only Surgery known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy can treat Gallstones. The risk of leaving stones untreated is much more than getting it treated. World over, lakhs of patients have undergone this procedure and it has proved to be safe and beneficial. It has now become the gold standard for the treatment of gallstones. Gallstones treatment in Pune at Presize Clinic Pune is done by a team of expert doctors lead by Dr Kedar Patil.
Do all patients require Surgery?
All symptomatic stones require Surgery known as Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy where in three to four small one cm punctures are made in abdomen and the gall bladder is removed completely, putting an end to the problem.
Asymptomatic gall stones which are accidentally picked up on ultrasound done for other reasons of the abdomen can be observed with serial ultrasounds every 6 months to see if the size of stones is increasing or if they are causing obstruction, except in diabetics or person with blood disorders like sickle cell anaemia where even asymptomatic stones are advised surgery.
Persons staying in Gangetic belt of North India are more prone for gall bladder cancer associated with gallstones hence advised surgery, likewise, gallbladder polyps of more than 10 mm also tend towards malignancy.
Migrating stones can produce life-threatening pancreatitis. Large stones can compress the CBD or can drill into the duodenum in time. Hence it is advisable to get treatment for gallstones before complications develop.
Sometimes due to severe infection or patient unfit for general anesthesia requires an Open Surgery, otherwise, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is the norm for gallstone disease.
