Dr. Raghunath K J belongs to Chennai. He is a general surgeon with a rich experience of more than 27 years. After completing MBBS and MS from Madras University, he did a fellowship from Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, UK. He is an esteemed member of General Medicine and Tamil Nadu Medical Council. Dr. Raghunath’s expertise lies in Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Endoscopic Surgery, and Gall Bladder Stone Treatment. He is well-known for the treatment of Abdominoperineal Resection, Abscess - Intra Abdominal, Pelvic, Subphrenic, Amputation – above, below Knee and toe, Hernia removal, Mastectomy, and many more. He is working with Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
What are Gallstones?
The hardened deposits of digestive fluids formed in the gallbladder are gallstones. The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ at the right side of the abdomen. It lies just beneath the liver. It holds a digestive fluid called bile that is released into the small intestine.
Gallstones' size ranges from that of a small grain of sand to a large golf ball. Some may develop just one, while others can have many gallstones at the same time.
People who experience extreme symptoms from gallstones usually require gallbladder removal surgery. While the others that don't cause any signs and symptoms typically don't need treatment.
Symptoms of Gallstones
Gallstones may or may not cause any signs or symptoms. If a gallstone gets stuck in a duct and causes a blockage, then you may observe sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Sometimes this pain occurs in the center of the abdomen or just below the breastbone. Back pain between your shoulder blades or pain in your right shoulder emerges sometimes. You can even feel nausea or vomiting. The pain generally lasts from few minutes to hours.
It is highly recommended to see a general surgeon if the pain is so intense that you can’t sit or stand in a comfortable position. If your skin and whites in the eye turn yellowish. High fever with chills is also a sign to visit the doctor immediately.
Causes of Gallstones
Bile contains chemicals that dissolve cholesterol excreted from the lever. When the lever excretes excessive cholesterol that bile cannot dissolve, it may form crystals that eventually turn into stones.
When your body breaks down red blood cells, a chemical known as bilirubin is produced. The excess of bilirubin also forms gallstones.
When the gallbladder does not empty itself properly, bile juice gets concentrated that further contributes to gallstones.
How are Gallstones diagnosed?
You will have to undergo a certain test that diagnoses gallstones and their complications:
- Abdominal Ultrasound – It is one of the most common ways used to look for signs of gallstones. During an abdominal ultrasound, a device known as a transducer is moved back and forth across your stomach area. It sends signals to a computer that creates images that show the structures in the abdomen.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)- This procedure helps in identifying smaller stones that get missed on an abdominal ultrasound. During EUS the doctor passes a thin, flexible tube known as an endoscope through your mouth and digestive tract. The transducer in the tube produces sound waves creating a precise image of the surrounding tissue.
- Other tests - Additional tests may include oral cholecystography, a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), computerized tomography (CT), or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Gallstones discovered in ERCP can be removed during the procedure.
- Blood tests. Blood tests help to reveal infection, jaundice, pancreatitis, or other complications caused by gallstones.
Treatment
- Medications to dissolve gallstones - Medications help in dissolving gallstones. It may take months or years of treatment to dissolve your gallstones with medicines. They are likely to form again if treatment is stopped. When medications don't work you might have to undergo surgery.
- Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) - Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder as gallstones frequently reoccur. Once the gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from the liver into your small intestine, rather than being stored in the gallbladder.
Take away
You normally don't need your gallbladder to live. Gallbladder removal does not affect your digestive system, but it can cause diarrhoea, which is usually temporary. Consult your doctor to get the consultation and treatment that is right for you.
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