Do gallstones need to be removed?

Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Whether or not gallstones need to be removed depends mainly on whether there are symptoms and the size of the stones. For patients with gallstones smaller than four centimeters, they generally do not exhibit obvious symptoms and do not require special treatment. They can have regular follow-up ultrasound exams to dynamically observe any changes in the condition. Of course, they should avoid spicy and irritating foods in their diet to reduce inflammatory stimuli, which is beneficial in controlling the condition. For patients with larger gallstones, who repeatedly experience discomfort and pain in the upper right abdomen, it is necessary to remove the gallbladder through surgery to achieve a cure. The preferred method of surgery is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as it has the advantages of a smaller incision, less damage, and quicker recovery.

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Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How many days are needed for minimally invasive gallbladder stone surgery?

Gallbladder stones clinically often require surgical treatment. There are two types of minimally invasive surgery for gallbladder stones. The first type is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the other type is laparoscopic gallbladder-preserving stone removal. If the patient undergoes minimally invasive gallbladder-preserving stone removal, they can generally move around within three to five hours after surgery, resume a liquid diet after half a day, be discharged three days postoperatively, and fully recover within a week without affecting their normal life and work. If the patient undergoes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and if they are relatively young, it is recommended that they can resume eating on the evening of the surgery, get out of bed the next day, and be discharged within two to three days. Even in some large clinical medical centers, the cholecystectomy can be performed as a day surgery, where the patient may be admitted in the morning, undergo surgery in the afternoon, and handle discharge procedures after completing post-surgery intravenous fluid therapy in the evening.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can I eat before a gallbladder stone examination?

Before checking for gallstones, one should not eat, as the main methods of examination are through color ultrasound and CT scans, which can better lead to a diagnosis. Both color ultrasound and CT scans require fasting because eating can cause the stomach to fill, potentially resulting in artifacts that hinder the observation of the condition. Therefore, patients with gallstones need to fast before the examination. The approach to treatment depends on the presence of symptoms and the size of the stones. For large gallstones that cause recurrent episodes, early surgical treatment should be considered. Only by surgically removing the gallbladder can a definitive cure be achieved, which can significantly improve the prognosis for the patient.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Causes of gallstones

The main cause of gallstones is attributed to diet, with cholesterol stones being the most common type among patients. Therefore, individuals who consume foods high in fats and cholesterol, such as offal and fatty meats, are more prone to developing gallstones. Of course, the formation of gallstones is also closely related to genetic and environmental factors. Treatment of gallstones primarily depends on the presence or absence of symptoms. Patients with small gallstones usually do not exhibit noticeable symptoms and do not require special treatment, but should regularly undergo follow-up ultrasound examinations to monitor any changes. However, patients with symptomatic gallstones need to have their gallbladder surgically removed to achieve a cure.

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Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Gallbladder stones incidence rate in men and women

Understanding the gender differences in the prevalence of various diseases has important practical significance for the occurrence, development, and prevention of diseases. Research in this area has gradually gained attention from health prevention workers and provides a scientific basis for health prevention efforts. Various clinical studies indicate that the prevalence of gallstones is significantly higher in women than in men, with an incidence ratio of about 3:1 in the affected population. With economic development, people's lifestyles and dietary structures have undergone tremendous changes, leading to an increasing trend in the incidence of gallstones. In China, approximately 8%-11% of patients suffer from gallstones, predominantly obese women around forty years old, often referred to by the three Fs: fat, forty, female.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What will happen if gallstones worsen?

For patients with gallstones, if exacerbation occurs, they will exhibit significant pain in the upper right abdomen, and may even experience radiating pain in the right shoulder, scapular area, and back, severely affecting the quality of life. Some patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension among other gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, patients with these symptoms should undergo surgery as soon as possible. The primary treatment for gallstones is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as it has the advantages of a small incision, minimal injury, and faster recovery, making it often the first choice in clinical settings. Additionally, it is still necessary for postoperative patients to avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammation and better facilitate recovery from the condition.