While gallstone disease is one of the leading indications for surgery in the United States today, only 10-20% of people with gallstones will develop symptoms within 20 years of their diagnosis. So, not everyone with gallstones will require surgery for them. But who does? Well, people with symptoms may want to consider surgery. The symptoms can be pretty bad and are commonly referred to as a ”gallbladder attack”. Pain in the upper right abdomen after meals is the most common. Additionally, there is often pressure and bloating, nausea and vomiting, and possibly even diarrhea. The pain can also go into the back or right shoulder. Most often, the episode lasts for a few minutes or even a couple of hours, and then completely goes away. Sometimes, the symptoms do not improve and a trip to the Emergency Room might be necessary.

Acute cholecystitis means inflammation or infection of the gallbladder and can develop when the gallbladder attack is prolonged. This is serious and often requires hospitalization and more urgent surgery. Another possible risk of symptomatic gallstones is blockage of the main bile duct which drains from the liver. This can lead to serious liver or pancreatic infection and need for hospitalization and possible urgent surgery. We know that the risk for surgery in these more inflammed states can be higher than when there is little or no inflammation.

Surgery is often recommended for symptomatic gallstones and in most cases, this can be performed laparoscopically. This approach is associated with a reduced recovery time and is often done on an outpatient basis. Most will be able to return to work in one week and can resume eating all of the things that they like without the fear of an attack.

So, if you have gallstones, talk with your doctor about whether you might be experiencing symptoms from them. On the other hand, if you have these symptoms and are not sure whether you have gallstones or not, your doctor may want to send you for an ultrasound to find out. For the most part, those of you with gallstones and no symptoms are probably okay to just continue on for now. Always discuss these decisions with your doctor during your regular check-ups. 

Feel free to call our office for an appointment if you would like to discuss laparoscopic surgery for your gallbladder.