What are the Complications of Gallstones?
Before answering the question whether one needs surgery or not, we need to understand the risks of gallstones and surgery. They are as follows:
Pain (biliarycolic): Normally, pain comes after food, especially fatty foods,across upper abdomen and can radiate to the back. It can last upto a few hours. If any one experiences these symptoms repeatedly and is found to have gallstones, then it is symptomatic gallstones. Patients are strongly advised to have surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy:key hole procedure to remove gall bladder with stones) before having any of the other complications listed below.
Infection (cholecystitis): This infection of gall bladder usually happens when gallstone blocks the cystic duct (see picture). This would need admission and prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics at least for 48 hours and surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy: key hole procedure to remove gall bladder with stones) on same admission.
Infection Cholangitis: This happens when there is infection with blocked bile duct caused by the stone in the bile duct. This is a very serious condition as the infection can spread to the blood in a very short time and cause serious organ damage (renal failure/cardiac failure/liver failure). This is associated with high risks, so patients would be in ICU. Patients will need ERCP ( camera procedure to remove stone in bile duct). Once recovered from the infection, patients will need surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy: key hole procedure to remove gall bladder with stones) on the same admission.
Jaundice: This can happen when gallstone slips from the gallbladder to the
common bile duct and causes obstruction to flow of bile (see picture). Patients will need ERCP (camera procedure to remove stone in bile duct). Sometimes, the stone can pass on its own. This will be determined by serial blood tests. Once recovered from the infection, patients will need surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy: key hole procedure to remove gall bladder with stones) on the same admission.
Pancreatitis: This is the most serious complication of gallstones with serious threat to life depending on the severity of pancreatitis. Most patients will need ERCP (camera procedure to remove stone in bile duct). Vary rarely can the stone pass on its own. Once recovered from pancreatitis, patients will need surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy: key hole procedure to remove gall bladder with stones) on the same admission.