What is the treatment for gallstones?
Updated December 29, 2014.
Question: What is the treatment for gallstones?
Answer:
Treatment of gallstones depends partly on whether you are experiencing symptoms or not. If symptoms (especially severe pain) are present, surgical removal of the gallbladder is the most common treatment. If you have no symptoms, you and your doctor may decide that no treatment is needed.
Surgery for Gallstones
The most common operation for gallbladder removal is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.The surgeon makes three or four tiny incisions in the abdomen, and then inserts surgical instruments and a miniature video camera into the abdomen. The surgeon uses the camera to see what he is doing, and uses the instruments to remove the gallbladder and gallstones. The surgeon will also inspect the bile ducts and inject a dye to check for any stones or blockages.
If infection or scarring from other surgeries is found, a surgeon may perform an open surgery instead of the laparoscopic surgery. "Open" surgeries involve the surgeon making a 5- to 8-inch incision in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder.
Patients experience less pain, fewer complications, and shorter recovery time with the laparoscopic option than they do after an open surgery.
Nonsurgical Treatment for Gallstones
Nonsurgical treatment of gallstones is rarely used, as it only can be used for cholesterol gallstones. If a patient has a serious medical condition that would prevent surgery, a nonsurgical treatment for the gallstones may be attempted.The gallstones, however, usually recur after nonsurgical treatment.
The types of nonsurgical gallstone treatment include:
- Oral Dissolution Therapy
Drugs, ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix), have been used and work best for small cholesterol stones. These drugs can take months or even years to dissolve the gallstones. - Contact Dissolution Therapy
This is an experimental treatment that involves injecting a drug that can dissolve gallstones in 1 to 3 days. This treatment is not offered in many places and may be hard to find.
Sources:
"Common Gastrointestinal Problems - Gallstones." American College of Gastroenterology. 13 Jul 2009
"Gallstones." American College of Gastroenterology. 13 Jul 2009
"Gallstones." NIH Publication No. 07–2897 July 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 13 Jul 2009
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