Gallstones - Common Questions and Misconceptions
2. What issues do gallstones cause?
3. Do all gallstones require treatment? What sizes of stones must be addressed?
4. Can we just remove the stones and leave the gallbladder undisturbed?
5. What are the digestive/health complications caused by gallbladder removal?
6. Can I leave my gallstones untreated or experiment with Native remedies (Unani/ Homeo/ Ayurveda)?
7. Why are some individuals dissatisfied with gallstone surgery?
What causes gallstones?
Gallstone formation occurs as a result of obesity, inactivity, fatty food consumption, constipation and obesity. People living in parts of India such as Cow Belt (UP, Bihar and West Bengal) area have an especially high prevalence rate for stones; multiple pregnancies also increase your chances for them.
Also Read: Healthy Eating For Gallbladder Stones
What issues do gallstones cause?
Gallstones can cause sudden, intense abdominal or right half abdomen pain that starts after food intake or night/early morning hours and radiates out to right shoulder/back areas, lasting from 1/2 hr to 6 hours and stopping within this timeframe. If pain persists for longer than 24 hrs complications from gallstones should be considered including gallbladder infection (acute cholecystitis), pancreatitis/bile duct-liver infection (cholangitis), gangrene or perforation.
Do all gallstones require treatment? What sizes of stones must be addressed?
As opposed to kidney stones, the treatment for gallstones does not depend on size or number of stones; rather their presence and associated symptoms determine treatment. If someone exhibits symptoms even from one stone then all must be removed irrespective of size; otherwise if detected during routine medical exams they can simply be followed up upon even if multiple stones exist.
Also Read: Gallstone Diagnosis And Treatment
Can we just remove the stones and leave the gallbladder undisturbed?
As opposed to kidney stones where both kidneys are healthy, patients with gallstones suffer from gallbladder disease. Treatment in the early 20th century focused on dissolving or extracting gallstones while leaving the gallbladder intact; all such attempts resulted in their reappearance within 3-6 months; nowadays we understand that gallstones are due more to gallbladder issues than stones themselves; worldwide standard Gallbladder Stones treatment is cholecystectomy (removal of complete gallbladder containing stones).
What are the digestive/health complications caused by gallbladder removal?
The gallbladder does not produce any digestive juices; its primary function is to store bile between meals. After having it removed, intra-hepatic biliary radicles and common bile duct expand to accommodate and store this bile, leaving no digestive issues or need for change following gallstone surgery – this fact has been well documented as it’s one of the most frequently performed surgeries globally with plenty of scientific data supporting this.
Can I leave my gallstones untreated or experiment with Native remedies (Unani/ Homeo/ Ayurveda)?
Allopathic or non-allopathic medicines do not reliably address gallstones; we can only observe and operate once there is pain. Once symptoms appear, there is a 4-8% annual risk of serious complications such as acute cholecystitis/ pancreatitis/ jaundice/ cholangitis /gangrene; patients with gallstones face this threat over the next 10 years and therefore cholecystectomy is mandatory in these patients.
Why are some individuals dissatisfied with gallstone surgery?
Gallstones only cause severe abdominal pain, with all its accompanying complications, as listed above. Other symptoms, including abdominal tightness, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, constipation and increased frequency of stools that many people experience are unrelated to gallstones – any attempts by patients/treating doctors to link these symptoms with gallstones often leads to disappointment as these issues may not be alleviated by surgery such as cholecystectomy.
About Docor
Dr. Azhar Alam
MBBS (Honours), MRCS A (UK),
DNB General Surgery
FIAGES (Gastro Intestinal Surgery)
FMAS (Minimal Access Surgery),
MNAMS (New Delhi)
Consultant Gastrointestinal, Advanced Laparoscopic and Laser Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Surgery, KPC Medical College and Hospital
