Gallstones - SP Medifort Hospital

Gallstones Treatment

Gallstones: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located under the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid released into the small intestine to help digest fats. Gallstones (cholelithiasis) can block the normal flow of bile, sometimes causing abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and other digestive problems.
At SP Medifort Hospital, patients receive the best gallstone treatment in South India, supported by advanced diagnostic facilities and expert medical care. Recognized as one of the best hospitals for gallstone treatment, SP Medifort offers comprehensive evaluation using ultrasound scans and advanced imaging techniques to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely care.
Our experienced gastroenterologists and laparoscopic surgeons specialize in minimally invasive gallstone treatment, including gallstone surgery in South India and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in South India. These advanced procedures ensure safe treatment, minimal pain, and faster recovery. Early treatment at a leading multispecialty hospital in South India helps prevent complications such as cholecystitis, bile duct obstruction, and pancreatitis. Although gallbladder stones are more common in adults, pediatric gallbladder stones can also occur in children due to genetic, metabolic, or hematologic conditions. At SP Medifort Hospital, we provide comprehensive evaluation and pediatric gallbladder stone treatment using advanced diagnostic techniques and child-friendly surgical care. Our experienced team offers specialized management for gallstones in children, including minimally invasive laparoscopic gallbladder stone removal in South India, ensuring faster recovery and minimal discomfort. As a trusted center for gallbladder stone removal in South India, we deliver safe, effective, and evidence-based care tailored to young patients with gallbladder disorders.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Gallstones often start without symptoms, but larger stones or blocked ducts can trigger attacks, usually after fatty meals or at night. Gallstones symptoms include:

Indigestion, bloating, or gas.
Pain in the back or right shoulder.
Nausea or vomiting.
Sudden, intense pain in the upper right or middle abdomen.
Back pain between your shoulder blades.
Intolerance of fatty foods.
Fever.

What are the different types of gallstones?

Gallstones can form in different ways, and understanding the types helps explain why they happen.

Cholesterol gallstones: Cholesterol gallstones are the most common type and are often referred to as yellow gallstones. They are usually yellow in color and are made mostly of undissolved cholesterol, sometimes mixed with other substances.
Pigment gallstones: Pigment gallstones are typically dark brown gallstones or black in color. These stones form when bile contains too much bilirubin, leading to the development of darker-colored gallstones.

Causes of Gallstones

The exact causes of gallstones aren’t fully understood, but they often form when:

Excess cholesterol in bile: Normally, bile can dissolve cholesterol, but if there’s too much, it can crystallize and form stones.
Too much bilirubin: Bilirubin, produced when red blood cells break down, can build up due to liver disease, infections, or blood disorders, contributing to stone formation.
Incomplete gallbladder emptying: If the gallbladder doesn’t empty fully or often, bile can become concentrated, increasing the risk of gallstones.

Diagnosis of Gallstones

The diagnostic process includes a complete medical history, physical examination, and advanced gallstone diagnostic tests to confirm the presence, size, and location of gallstones.

Ultrasound Scan: An abdominal ultrasound scan is the most commonly used and preferred test for gallstone diagnosis. It uses sound waves to create clear images of the gallbladder, helping detect gallbladder stones quickly and accurately.
Cholecystography: Cholecystography is a specialized X-ray imaging test with contrast dye that evaluates how bile flows through the gallbladder and intestines, helping identify gallbladder function abnormalities and stone obstruction.
Blood Tests: Blood investigations help identify signs of infection, bile duct blockage, jaundice, inflammation, or complications such as pancreatitis caused by gallstones.
CT scan for gallstones: A CT scan of the abdomen is an advanced diagnostic imaging technique that uses X-rays and computer technology to generate detailed cross-sectional images of internal organs, including the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, and pancreas.
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography): ERCP is a specialized endoscopic procedure used to diagnose and treat bile duct stones. An endoscope is passed through the stomach into the small intestine, and a contrast dye highlights the bile ducts, allowing doctors to detect blockages, strictures, or gallstones.
Sphincterotomy: A sphincterotomy may be performed during ERCP to gently open the sphincter of Oddi, the muscle controlling bile flow. This procedure allows gallstones to pass safely into the intestine, relieving bile duct obstruction, reducing pain, and preventing further complications.

What are the risk factors for gallstones?

Factors that increase your risk of gallstones include:

Diabetes: High triglyceride levels in people with diabetes contribute to stone formation.
Rapid weight loss: Fast fat metabolism increases cholesterol secretion into bile.
Fasting: Less frequent gallbladder emptying concentrates bile, promoting stones.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs: These can increase cholesterol in bile, raising the risk.
Ethnicity: Native Americans have higher rates due to a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol in bile.
Gender: Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones.
Obesity: Especially in women, excess weight raises the risk.
Age: People over 60 are at a higher risk of developing gallstones compared to younger individuals.
Estrogen: Pregnancy, hormone therapy, or birth control can increase cholesterol in bile and reduce gallbladder movement.

What treatment options are available for gallstones?

Treatment for Gallstones is advised if gallstones lead to ongoing pain, digestive discomfort, or complications. Based on individual needs, doctors may recommend the following treatment options:

Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy): Gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) is the most common and effective gallstone treatment for symptomatic gallbladder stones. At SP Medifort Hospital, this procedure is usually performed as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a minimally invasive gallstone surgery using small incisions for faster healing and reduced pain. After gallbladder removal, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine, rather than being stored in the gallbladder. This is a safe and well-tolerated procedure, though some patients may experience temporary diarrhea or digestive changes as bile is released continuously. Gallstone treatment at SP Medifort Hospital focuses on safe surgery, minimal discomfort, and faster recovery.

Oral Dissolution Therapy: For selected cases of cholesterol gallstones, oral bile acid medications may be prescribed to slowly dissolve gallstones over time. This non-surgical gallstone treatment can take several months or even years and is typically recommended for patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery.

Methyl-tert-butyl Ether (MTBE) Injection: In this procedure, a chemical solution is directly injected into the gallbladder to dissolve stones. It is less commonly used today due to the availability of safer and more effective treatments.

Contact Dissolution Therapy: This involves injecting a drug directly into the gallbladder to target and dissolve stones. It is considered experimental and is not widely used outside of research settings.