The Gallbladder, also called the cholecyst, is a membranous muscular sac situated in the upper section of the stomach, just beneath the liver. It stores bile, a yellow-green liquid that aids digestion and is discharged into the small intestine. Gallbladder problems usually occur when something blocks the bile duct, such as a gallstone. Gallstones are the deposits of the digestive fluids present in our Gallbladder, which have hardened up, resulting in blocking the bile duct.
Gallstones can be as small as 0.5 cm or as big as 10 cm. Some people may develop one Gallstone, while others acquire multiple gallstones at once. Gallstones necessitate gallbladder removal surgery for those who feel symptoms. Gallstones may not show any symptoms in their initial stage, but treatment is mandatory later on as the symptoms start to show.
Even though gallstones may cause no symptoms initially, if the patient experiences any of the symptoms, they should contact the best gastroenterologist in Mumbai as soon as possible. A gastroenterologist will guide the patient throughout the necessary medical treatments & procedures to ensure a painless recovery.
What are the causes of Gallstone?
There are no apparent reasons for the cause of Gallstone, but the medical experts have come to the below conclusions;
- If there is increased cholesterol in your bile.
Usually, enough compounds are bound in your bile to break down the cholesterol released by your liver. However, if the liver excretes excess cholesterol, then your bile will not be able to break down the extra cholesterol. This may crystallize and create stones.
- Your Gallbladder is not emptying properly.
Bile can get exceedingly concentrated if your Gallbladder isn’t emptying entirely or frequently enough, which can lead to gallstone formation.
- There is a lot of bilirubin in your bile.
Bilirubin is a substance created by your body when the red blood cells are broken down. Biliary tract infections, Cirrhosis of the liver, and some blood problems cause your liver to produce too much bilirubin. An excess of bilirubin causes gallstones.
What are the symptoms of Gallstone?
Gallbladder pain can strike after eating high-fat foods like fried foods, but it can strike at any time. Gallstones may cause pain in the upper right section of the stomach or the middle section of the stomach. Even though gallstone pain commonly lasts for just a few hours, it can be excruciating. However, suppose the Gallstone is left just as it is. In that case, the symptoms of gallstones will worsen and cause additional pain, and this is why once you start experiencing the symptoms, you should visit the best gastroenterologist in Mumbai to get it treated or detected.
Let us discuss the details of the symptoms one will experience if a gallstone were to occur in their system;
- Immense pain in the top right corner of the abdominal section occurs suddenly and worsens rapidly.
- Pain experienced in the center of the abdomen, right below the breastbone, emerges suddenly and worsens quickly.
- Back pain between the shoulder blades is also a common ailment.
- Vomiting or nausea.
If gallstones are left untreated or undiscovered, the following symptoms may develop:
- A high temperature, rapid heartbeat, yellow skin, and sclera (jaundice).
- Itchy skin.
- Diarrhea \ chills \ confusion
- Loss of appetite.
These signs could indicate a gallbladder disease or even a gallbladder, liver, or pancreas inflammation. Moreover, gallstone symptoms can be confused with other severe conditions like appendicitis or pancreatitis. Therefore, it’s essential to consult the best gastroenterologist in Mumbai and seek an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible.
What are the risks of having Gallstones?
The risk of having a gallstone will increase with the following categories:
- Women have a greater risk
- Going through pregnancy
- Older than 40 or equal to the age
- Overweight
- Being on a high-fat diet
- Having blood disorders
- Having Diabetes
- Going through liver diseases
- A family history of gallstones.
Treatment For Gallstones:
Treatment isn’t required unless the gallstones are causing the patient physical ailments. Gallstones can be present in the body without the patient realizing it. If the patient experiences discomfort, they should immediately contact the best gastroenterologist in Mumbai. The doctor may suggest surgery and utilize medications in rare circumstances.
Surgical Treatment:
- Cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal surgery, is among the most prevalent procedures. However, leading a healthy lifestyle without the Gallbladder is achievable as it is not a vital organ.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
In this process, doctors will remove the Gallbladder with 3 to 4 incisions while keeping the patient under anesthesia.
- Open cholecystectomy
Doctors use Open cholecystectomy to treat the cause whenever the Gallbladder gets inflamed.
Non-Surgical Treatment:
- Oral dissolution therapy
In this process, the doctor will break the Gallstones with the drugs ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix) into smaller pieces.
- Shock wave lithotripsy
A lithotripter is a mechanism that sends shock waves through the body. This machine breaks Gallstones into smaller bits by these shock waves.
- Percutaneous drainage of the Gallbladder
This procedure involves aspirating bile from the Gallbladder with a sterile needle.
Conclusion:
To prevent Gallstones from occurring in the body, one will have to maintain a healthy diet, avoid unhealthy fats, and not forget to exercise regularly.
