Excess cholesterol and bilirubin in the bile can result in hard deposits or gallstones, which form inside the gallbladder. Although a general surgeon in Navi Mumbai may recommend treatment to dissolve these stones or remove them, leaving the gallbladder intact, it’s often advised to have the entire gallbladder removed. To know why removing the gallbladder is a good move, let’s first understand what gallstones are and their symptoms.
Understanding Gallstones
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile, a digestive fluid that aids in breaking down fatty foods. Occasionally, bile can harden, resulting in stone-like formations. These hardened deposits can vary in size and quantity. Here’s what individuals with gallbladder stones are likely to experience:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Back pain
- Jaundice
- Fever and chills
Some people do not experience any symptoms, while others report severe abdominal pain with fever, requiring immediate medical attention.
Treatment Options for Gallstones
If your gallstones are asymptomatic, you may not need treatment. However, if you experience the above symptoms, your doctor will discuss the below-listed invasive and non-invasive treatment options.
1) Non-surgical Treatments:
Medication to dissolve gallstones can help, but it is usually reserved for patients who are unable to undergo surgery. The medication may take months or years to dissolve the stones, and even if they are dissolved, there’s no guarantee that the stones won’t recur. Shock wave lithotripsy is another non-surgical way to remove gallstones with sound waves, but it is also rarely performed.
2) Lifestyle Changes:
Switching to a healthy lifestyle with low-fat diets and exercise can help prevent new stone formation but won’t remove the existing gallbladder stones.
3) Cholecystectomy:
A surgical removal of the gallbladder offers a permanent cure for recurring gallbladder stones. A minimally-invasive Cholecystectomy involves a laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder, thus a shorter recovery and fewer complications.
Why Remove the Gallbladder Instead of Just the Stones?
Cholecystectomy is a more preferred treatment for gallstones than removing just the gallstones or dissolving them with medication. Gallstones form because of an underlying issue with the gallbladder function. While you may remove the stones, the root cause that led to the stone formation in the first place won’t be fixed.
With cholecystectomy, you can have peace of mind knowing that the stones won’t recur, eliminating your risk of developing complications like jaundice, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and biliary obstruction. Besides that, you can live a healthy and normal life without a gallbadder. Instead of being stored in the gallbladder, the bile will flow from the liver to the small intestine. You won’t experience any significant digestion change after the surgery.
Benefits of Gallbladder Removal
Here’s why the gallbladder removal surgery in Navi Mumbai an ideal choice for patients with gallstones:
- No chance of gallstone recurrence
- Prevents blockages, pancreatitis, and other gallstone-related complications
- Faster recovery
Cholecystectomy is an effective and safe treatment option for gallstone removal. The surgery offers long-term relief from the gallstone symptoms and prevents life-threatening complications. Since it doesn’t impact your digestive function, it’s the most preferred solution to gallbladder stones.
