The gallbladder is a small organ under your liver. The function of this organ is to store and release bile to help in digesting food. Sometimes, hardened deposits of digestive fluid form in that organ.

These are known as gallstones. The following are the two types of gallstones:

  • Cholesterol gallstones: Almost 80% of the gallstones are of this type. These are normally yellow-green.

  • Pigment gallstones: Bilirubin is the main ingredient of these stones, which are smaller and darker.

The best gallbladder surgeon in Kolkata can help people to get rid of this problem.

Complications

There can be different complications due to gallstones.

Acute cholecystitis

It is an inflammation of the gallbladder. This often happens due to gallstones blocking the tube leading out of the gallbladder. This results in a build-up of bile, which can cause inflammation. The symptoms include:

  • Pain travelling to the shoulder blade after beginning in the upper abdomen
  • A rapid heartbeat
  • Fever

Jaundice

When a gallstone passes into the bile duct from the gallbladder and blocks the flow of bile, it can often lead to jaundice. Some of the symptoms are:

  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes
  • Itching
  • Dark brown urine
  • Pale stools

Pancreatitis

Sometimes a gallstone blocks the opening of the pancreas after moving out of the gallbladder. This causes inflammation of the pancreas, which is known as pancreatitis. The following are some of its symptoms:

  • Sudden severe dull pain in the middle portion of the abdomen
  • Feeling of sickness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhoea
  • Tenderness of the abdomen
  • High temperature

Treatment

The doctor decides the treatment option for gallstones based on the effects of the symptoms on the patient’s daily life.

Surgery

The surgical removal of the gallbladder, which is known as cholecystectomy, is an effective treatment for gallstones. The laparoscopic approach is common in most of the surgeries.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The patient normally remains in sleep under the effect of general anaesthesia during the whole procedure. The best gallbladder laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata makes some small incisions in the abdomen. Among these incisions, one is near the belly button and the others are on the right side of the abdomen.

The surgeon inflates the abdomen using carbon dioxide gas. He/she can see the area of surgery properly due to this.

The surgeon inserts a laparoscope through one of the incisions. It is a long, thin tube that has a tiny light and video camera attached to its end. He/she inserts special surgical instruments through the other incisions to remove the gallbladder. While the procedure is in progress, the surgeon can see images of the area that the laparoscope projects on a monitor. After the procedure is complete, the laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata uses dissolvable stitches to close the cuts and cover these with dressings. The patient usually can go home the same day of the surgery.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is another surgical procedure.

Medications

The doctor may suggest medications to dissolve the gallstones for people who can’t undergo surgery.