Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile in the gallbladder. Method treatment for gallstonesIt varies, depending on the symptoms, the type of gallstones, and their location.
Until now, the cause of gallstones is not known, but there are several factors that put a person at risk of developing gallstones. Women, especially pregnant women, experience gallstones more often than men. In addition, obesity also increases the risk of gallstones forming.
The number of gallstones that sufferers have varies, it can be only one, it can also be several pieces. They vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball.
What are the Symptoms of Kemergence Gallstones?
Gallstones initially cause no signs or symptoms. However, if the gallstones shift into the bile duct and cause a blockage, the patient will feel pain in the stomach. Symptoms of abdominal pain caused by gallstones are:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen and heartburn, which appears suddenly and gets worse quickly.
- Pain radiates to the back between the shoulder blade and right shoulder.
- The pain can be so severe that the sufferer cannot sit still or find a comfortable position.
In addition to abdominal pain, other symptoms that can also appear are:
- Fever
- Shivering
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaundice
If you experience these symptoms, immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will perform various examinations, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or ERCP, to look for the presence of gallstones. Blood tests can also be done to see complications arising from gallstone disease.
When Oclean Batu Ebile Required?
Treatment for gallstone disease will be tailored to the patient's condition. For gallstones that do not cause symptoms, surgical removal of the gallbladder is often not necessary.
Only a third of all patients with gallstone disease without symptoms eventually require surgery. This shows that gallstones are actually nothing to worry about if they do not cause complaints or symptoms.
Surgery is performed when gallstone disease has caused symptoms. The surgery performed by the surgeon during surgery is the removal of the gallbladder. Doctors can perform surgery to remove the gallbladder by laparoscopy, or by open surgery, namely through an incision in the abdominal wall.
Removal of the gallbladder does not affect a person's ability to digest food, but it can sometimes cause diarrhea.
Treatment of gallstones other than surgery
Apart from surgery, gallstones can also be treated with:
Ursodeoxycholic acid drug
Ursodeoxycholic acid medication can help dissolve gallstones, but it can take several months and should be monitored monthly. However, the drug ursodeoxycholic acid has several drawbacks, namely that it can only treat small stones and stones formed from cholesterol. In addition, gallstones can also recur.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)
ESWL is a treatment with shock waves to break up gallstones. The disadvantage of this method is that it is only effective for single gallstones less than 2 cm in diameter. In addition, the effectiveness of ESWL in destroying gallstones is also not completely clear, so doctors usually recommend surgery.
In conclusion, when gallstones cause symptoms, the treatment option is surgical removal of the gallbladder. There are other treatment alternatives with ESWL drugs and measures, but keep in mind that gallstones can reappear if the gallbladder is not removed.
Written by:
dr. Sonny Seputra, M.Ked.Klin, SpB(Surgeon)