BILIARY CONDITION · CONDITION GUIDE

Gall Stones

Q: Can gallstones be dissolved with medication?

Ursodeoxycholic acid can dissolve small cholesterol gallstones but requires months to years of treatment, only works in selected patients with small cholesterol stones in a functioning gallbladder, and stones recur in up to 50% of cases after stopping treatment. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the definitive, curative treatment and is far more effective.

Q: Can I live normally without a gallbladder?

Yes. The gallbladder stores bile but is not essential for digestion. After cholecystectomy, bile flows continuously from the liver into the duodenum. The majority of patients experience no dietary restrictions and live entirely normally. A small proportion have loose stools initially, which usually settles within a few weeks.

Q: Is it safe to have surgery during an attack of cholecystitis?

Same-admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of acute cholecystitis is now the recommended approach. It is safe, reduces the risk of recurrent attacks during a waiting period, and is associated with shorter total hospital stay compared to delayed surgery.

Hardened deposits in the gallbladder causing pain, inflammation, and potentially serious complications — treated definitively by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

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Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gall Stones by Dr. Tagore

Very Common PREVALENCE

30–60 Min PROCEDURE DURATION

Day Case – 1 Day HOSPITAL STAY

ABOUT THIS CONDITION

What is Gall Stones?

Gallstones are solid deposits that form in the gallbladder from crystallised bile components. They are present in approximately 15–20% of the adult population but become symptomatic in only a proportion. Symptomatic gallstones cause biliary colic — episodic right upper quadrant pain after meals — and may lead to acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, and rarely gallbladder cancer. Dr. Tagore Mohan Grandhi performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones at Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad. This is the gold-standard treatment, removing the gallbladder and all its contained stones through four small keyhole incisions, with same-day or next-day discharge in most cases.

SIGNS TO WATCH

Common Symptoms

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Symptoms that need attention

Episodic right upper quadrant or epigastric pain, typically after fatty meals Nausea and vomiting accompanying biliary colic Fever and jaundice suggesting acute cholecystitis or cholangitis Severe epigastric pain radiating to the back in gallstone pancreatitis Intolerance to fatty food, bloating, and dyspepsia Asymptomatic — stones discovered incidentally in many patients

WHY IT HAPPENS

Causes & Risk Factors

Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol leading to stone formation
Female sex, obesity, and multiparity — the ‘Four Fs’ (Female, Fat, Forty, Fertile)
Rapid weight loss or prolonged fasting altering bile composition
Haemolytic anaemia forming pigment stones
Ileal disease or resection impairing bile salt absorption
Genetic predisposition and family history of gallstones

CLINICAL DETAILS

KeyFacts

Gold Standard

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy — keyhole removal of gallbladder

Timing

Index admission for acute cholecystitis; elective for biliary colic

Bile Duct Stones

ERCP for concurrent common bile duct stones

Recovery

Day case or overnight; return to work in 1–2 weeks

Complications

Cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis if untreated

Hospital

Available at Lux Hospitals, Hitech City, Hyderabad

HOW WE TREAT IT

Treatment Approach

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Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy removes the gallbladder through four small incisions under general anaesthesia, with a 30–60 minute operative time, same-day or next-day discharge, and return to normal activities within 1–2 weeks. Dr. Grandhi performs over 200 laparoscopic cholecystectomies annually with an excellent safety record.

Available at Lux Hospitals, Hitech City, Hyderabad

1

Assessment & Investigations

Abdominal ultrasound confirms the diagnosis. Liver function tests and MRCP identify concurrent common bile duct stones requiring ERCP. Acute cholecystitis patients are assessed for same-admission surgery.
2

ERCP (if bile duct stones present)

Common bile duct stones are cleared by ERCP with sphincterotomy before or after cholecystectomy. Concurrent laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is performed in selected centres.
3

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Four small incisions provide laparoscopic access. The cystic artery and cystic duct are clipped and divided. The gallbladder is freed from the liver bed and removed in a retrieval bag.
4

Recovery & Dietary Advice

Most patients are discharged the same day or the following morning. Light activity resumes within days; full activity in 1–2 weeks. A normal diet is tolerated post-operatively; the liver continues to produce bile without the gallbladder.

AVAILABLE TREATMENTS

TreatmentOptions

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder with all contained gallstones. Gold-standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis.

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COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Can gallstones be dissolved with medication?+

Can I live normally without a gallbladder?+

Is it safe to have surgery during an attack of cholecystitis?+

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