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Generally, the condition is symptomless and does not require treatment.
Gallstones usually only give rise to symptoms if the stones move from the gallbladder into a bile duct. If they get stuck in the narrow neck of the gallbladder, this can cause severe pain called biliary colic. Alternatively, the stones may cause inflammation in the wall of the gallbladder (known as cholecystitis) or pass down the bile duct and cause obstruction to the opening of the pancreatic duct (pancreatitis.)
Severe upper-right abdominal pain
Severe back pain
Fever
Shivering
Jaundice
Pale stools or dark urine
Dr Bansi can arrange blood tests to look for signs of inflammation or jaundice. The most effective test for diagnosing gallstones is an ultrasound scan. This is a straightforward procedure – a small probe scans the upper abdomen in the region of the liver and gallbladder, and it is easy to pick out gallstones on the screen.
If they are not causing any symptoms, then it may not be necessary to have any treatment at all – even if you have a single attack.
Sometimes gallstones have to be physically removed. This is usually done in one of two ways. If the gallstones are in the gallbladder, the simplest method is to have keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder along with the stones.
The other way of dealing with gallstones, by endoscopy, is used for stones that have found their way into the common bile duct. This is called an ERCP.
Get in touchFrom well-equipped and convenient locations across West and central London, Devinder and his expert team provide unparalleled quality of care for the full range of GIT-related conditions.
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