Gallstones - The Best Way To Treat It!

Do you often complain of pain in the abdomen? Are you suffering from indigestion frequently? It’s time then to consult your doctor immediately. You may be suffering from gallstones. Well, these are tiny stones that are formed in human gall bladder. They are made up of cholesterol, calcium deposits and substances that are found in bile secretions. Doctors often refer to gallstones as cholelithiasis. These stones are of different sizes, shapes and composition.

What causes gallstones?
Gallstones are formed when cholesterol, calcium and other substances get mixed and form stone like structures in the gall bladder. These stones are responsible for causing stomach ache, indigestion, back pain, etc. Gall bladder is capable of storing fluids. So, as these solid stones get lodged in the bladder, the organ’s functioning is interrupted, resulting in several health issues.

Who is at risk?
Gallstones are caused due to excess cholesterol, improper diet intake, sedentary lifestyle and age. It can occur in any individual. But, usually it has been found that women, individuals above 40 years of age, pregnant women, and obese individuals are at risk of developing gallstones easily.

Symptoms of gallstones are stated below:
1. Pain in the abdomen
2. Nausea
3. Tension in the digestive system after intake of excess proteins and fats
4. Severe pain in the right side of the upper abdomen
5. Pain in shoulders, especially on the right side.

Treatment for gallstones
The fundamental treatment of gallstones is based on three principles watchful waiting, non-surgical therapy, and surgical removal of the gallbladder. The steps have been discussed below:

1. Watchful waiting: Gallstones cause immense pain in the abdomen. But the good thing about them is that they don’t usually reoccur. In some cases, it has been found that they get dissolved by medication. Thus, most doctors prefer to wait and watch a little before taking surgical steps.
2. Non-surgical therapy: Doctors try to dissolve the gallstones by using bile salt. This can only be done for gallstones formed by cholesterol. A drug named actigall is given as tablets to dissolve the stones. It takes months or years to get rid of the stones, depending on their size and nature. Doctors also use shock-wave therapy for treating gallstones. In this method, high-frequency sound waves are used to break the stones into tiny fragments. These pieces are later dissolved with bile salts. Doctors also undertake a method called contact dissolution to get rid of these stones by inserting a catheter tube in the abdomen of the patient. A medicine is injected into the body through this tube and the stones get vanished in few hours.Gallstones are also removed by inserting an endoscope. The process is called ERCP.

Surgical Method ( Laparoscopic Surgery)

Laparoscopic Surgery is used most commonly when no factors are present that may complicate the surgery.

How Well It Works

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is safe and effective. Surgery gets rid of gallstones located in the gallbladder. It does not remove stones in the common bile duct. Gallstones can form in the common bile duct years after the gallbladder is removed, although this is rare.

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is the best method of treating gallstones that cause symptoms, unless there is a reason that the surgery should not be done.