Gallbladder Stone Removal Surgery

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Gallbladder Stone Removal Surgery
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What is Gallbladder?

• The gallbladder is a pear shaped organ located in
  the upper right part of the abdomen, below the
  liver. Its main function is to store bile
  produced by the liver. The bile is released by
  the gallbladder in large amount after a large and
  fatty meal.

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What are 'Gallbladder Stones'?

• Cholelithiasis or gall bladder stones, mean the
  formation of stones in the gall bladder. These
  stones are formed by the precipitation of
  cholesterol crystals due to an alteration in the
  ratio between bile salts, calcium salts, bile
  pigments and cholesterol. This is a frequent
  occurring condition. The function of gallbladder
  is already impaired when patients are having
  symptoms related to gall bladder stones.

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What are the Symptoms?

• Patients with gallbladder stones can be totally
  asymptomatic for a long time. Once there are
  symptoms, it can be biliary colic that is
  manifested with pain in the upper right quadrant
  of the abdomen (upper part of the stomach and
  liver), which can extend to the back. This pain
  can last between 2-4 hours and then it can
  disappear completely. This pain occurs when the
  stone blocks the opening of the gallbladder
  leading to stretching of its walls. Pain goes
  away if the stone falls back in gallbladder
  letting the bile out of it. If the block
  continues it leads to a complication called acute
  cholecystitis. In such a situation the pain
  persists for more than 24 hours. It may be
  associated with fever , jaundice and vomiting.
  Gallbladder stone can also cause dyspepsia
  (feeling of indigestion).

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Who needs Surgery and why surgery is necessary?

• All patients who had an episode of pain in the
  right side of abdomen, who have chronic problems
  with indigestion, who had an episode of jaundice
  or pancreatitis related to gall bladder stones
  needs surgery. Surgery helps in prevention of
  gallbladder stones related complications like
  jaundice due to passage of stone in the bile
  duct, acute pancreatits, acute cholecystitis (
  inflammation of Gallbladder) and Gall bladder
  Cancer. Some of these complications are life
  threatening and it is much easy and safe to
  remove gallbladder than managing these
  complications. So the main purpose of surgery is
  to prevent complications. Those having episodes
  of pain, those with diabetes and already had any
  of these complications are at high risk of
  further complications and so such patients should
  get surgery done at earliest. Dr. Chirag Thakkar
  is a leading Laparoscopic surgeon of Ahmedabad
  with large no of surgeries performed till now.

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How is Gall Bladder Stones Diagnosed?

• Ultrasound is the most commonly used method for
  the diagnosis of gall bladder stones. In patients
  with any of these complications CT scan of
  abdomen or MRCP may be required. If needed we
  will advise you to get it done.

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What is the treatment for Gallbladder Stones?

• The treatment for gall bladder stones is
  exclusively surgical. Whole of gallbladder is
  removed as a part of this surgery. Unlike kidney
  stones, for gallbladder stones removing only the
  stones does not cure the condition. Stones are
  bound to form again if gallbladder is not
  removed. It is important to understand that
  gallbladder itself is not functioning properly in
  patients with gallbladder stones so it is
  necessary to remove gallbladder to cure the
  problem.

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Does removal of Gall bladder cause indigestion?

• There is no change in digestion after removal of
  Gallbladder. Once you are having symptoms due to
  gallbladder stones, your gallbladder as such is
  not functioning properly. Removing this non
  functioning gallbladder is not going to add to
  your indigestion. Bile still goes to your
  intestine for digestion from liver. A large
  quantity of bile required after a large and fatty
  meal will not go to intestine at once. So we will
  advise you to have small and frequent meals and
  avoid large and fatty meals. This dietary change
  is necessary even if you do not get you
  gallbladder removed.

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What are the risks involved in this surgery?

• As with any surgery there are risks involved with
  surgery and an aesthesia. This is more so with
  elderly people and those having heart, lung ,
  kidney or liver diseases. Thus emphasis should be
  placed on proper evaluation before surgery, and
  if you are having any such medical problems you
  should plan to be operated in a hospital with
  facilities for other specialties available.

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How long have I to stay in hospital?

• You can be discharged on the same day of surgery
  if you feel comfortable. We will prefer to keep
  you in hospital on the night of surgery and send
  you home the next day morning. Exceptions are
  when you have other problems like heart , lung or
  kidney diseases and require some treatment or
  monitoring for these conditions. Then you may
  need a couple of days in hospital.

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Consult us for Gallbladder Stone Treatment

• For Appointment Call
• 079-29703438
• Or
• Visit - www.drchiragthakkar.com