Gallstone removal surgery
Gallstone removal surgery, known as cholecystectomy, is a procedure to remove the gallbladder when it’s affected by gallstones. Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder, often causing pain and other serious complications.
Importance of Gallstone Removal Surgery
The removal of the gallbladder is primarily necessary when gallstones cause symptoms or complications. These include severe pain (biliary colic), infections of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or blockages of the bile ducts leading to jaundice or pancreatitis. Surgery is crucial because untreated complications can lead to significant health risks and considerable discomfort.
Causes of Gallstones
Gallstones can develop when there’s an imbalance in the substances that make up bile, such as cholesterol and bilirubin. Several factors increase the risk of gallstones:
- Excess Cholesterol in Bile: Too much cholesterol in bile can lead to the formation of cholesterol stones.
- Excess Bilirubin in Bile: Certain conditions can cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis and certain blood disorders, leading to bilirubin stones.
- Incomplete Gallbladder Emptying: If the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated, which contributes to stone formation.
- Risk Factors: These include obesity, diet, age, ethnicity, diabetes, and certain medications that contain estrogen.
Treatments for Gallstones
Treatment options for gallstones depend on the symptoms and complications they cause:
- Watchful Waiting: If gallstones cause no symptoms, treatment may not be immediately necessary.
- Medication: Oral medications can sometimes dissolve cholesterol gallstones, but they may take years to be effective and are not suitable for everyone.
- Non-Surgical Procedures: Techniques like shock wave lithotripsy (breaking up stones using sound waves) are less common and typically reserved for specific cases.
