-
Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
How are gallstones treated?
Related Topics
-
Find a professional to answer your question
Find a professional to answer your question Search Now
-
4
Thanks
Dr Kenneth Wong
Bariatric (Obesity) Surgeon, General Surgeon, Laparoscopic Surgeon
Dr Ken Wong is a very experienced specialist surgeon focussing on keyhole surgery techniques for gallstones, bowel cancer, hernia and weight loss surgery. He graduated … View Profile
Gallstones are very common in the Australian community. Often they may be found incidentally when undergoing tests and scans for other reasons. If gallstones are not causing problems such as pains, bloating and nausea, they can be left alone.
If gallstones start causing problems such as pain after meals, bloating and nausea or you develop a complicaton of gallstones such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, jaundice (turning yellow) or cholecystitis (infection of gallbladder), then early surgery to remove the gallbladder is required.
Removal of gallbladder is usually done by keyhole techniques and often means an overnight stay in hospital.
The whole gallbladder has to be removed. Unlike kidney stones, gallstones cannot be treated with laser nor blasting.
Leaving the gallbladder alone once a problem has occurred is not advisable as the stones are likely to cause further problems.
Dr Ken Wong
http://www.centralcoastsurgery.com.au
Report this post
You must be a HealthShare member to report this post. to your account or now (it's free).
You may also like these related questions
-
Why can't my doctor tell me I have UC or crohns?
Ive been diagnosed with Pan Ulcerative Colitis Intermittant in my large colon and been told it looks like 90% UC but I could also have crohns. if I have an operation to remove my colon and have an i… -
How serious is Crohn's disease?
-
How do I treat long term diarrhea, indigestion and crohn's?
