General Information About Gallstones
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It occurs when bile fluid, used to digest fatty foods, becomes highly concentrated and sludgy while resting inside the gallbladder, eventually solidifying into hard yellow/black stones.
High cholesterol in the blood mixes into the bile and forms a precipitate. Known in medicine as the '4F Rule', the risk of stone formation is much higher in those who are: in their Forties, Female, Fair-skinned/blonde, and Fat (overweight).
Absolutely not. The kidney connects to the urinary tract, so a stone can be passed. The duct of the gallbladder, however, is merely millimeters wide. If a stone drops there, it blocks the duct, causes the gallbladder to rupture, or leads to pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis), creating a life-threatening situation.
Bloating, indigestion, nausea, and stomach cramps that radiate to the back/right shoulder, particularly starting half an hour after eating fatty foods like fried items, eggs, or chocolate.
No. Gallstones cannot be shattered with sound waves, and dissolving them with medication (which takes months and they return immediately after stopping the drug) is not successful. The only standard and definitive medical treatment for gallstones is the surgical removal of the gallbladder itself.
The surgery is performed laparoscopically (with a camera) through 3-4 small holes without making a large incision on the abdomen, taking only about 20 minutes, and the gallbladder is removed from the body along with the stones inside. After the gallbladder is removed, bile fluid continues to flow directly from the liver into the intestine, and the patient continues their life without feeling any deficiency.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
