Gallstones — Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment in Lucknow
Gallstones are extremely common, and many people have them without ever knowing. But once stones start causing pain or complications, they tend to keep doing so — and surgery becomes the most reliable, lasting solution.
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma treats gallstone disease in Lucknow with refined laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, usually as a day-care procedure.
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hardened deposits — usually of cholesterol or bile pigments — that form in the gallbladder, the small organ that stores bile beneath the liver. They range from sand-like grains to stones several centimetres across.
Problems arise when a stone blocks the outflow of bile, causing pain, inflammation, jaundice or pancreatitis.
Symptoms to watch for
- Pain in the upper-right abdomen, often after fatty meals
- Pain radiating to the back or right shoulder blade
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating and indigestion
- Fever, or yellowing of the eyes and skin (with complications)
Causes & risk factors
- Female sex, pregnancy and hormonal factors
- Being overweight, or rapid weight loss
- A high-fat, low-fibre diet
- Increasing age and a family history of gallstones
- Diabetes and certain blood disorders
How it is diagnosed
- Abdominal ultrasound — the primary and most reliable test
- Liver function blood tests
- MRCP (a specialised MRI) if a bile-duct stone is suspected
- CT scan in complicated cases
How gallstones are treated
Silent gallstones causing no symptoms often need no treatment. But once stones cause pain or complications, laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the definitive cure — medicines and diet cannot dissolve stones reliably or stop them recurring.
If a stone has slipped into the bile duct, it may first be removed endoscopically (ERCP) before the gallbladder is taken out.
When to see a GI surgeon
- Repeated upper-abdominal pain, especially after meals
- Pain with fever, suggesting infection
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- Severe, persistent abdominal pain — seek urgent care
Gallstones: common questions
Do all gallstones need surgery?
No. Gallstones that never cause symptoms can often simply be observed. Surgery is recommended once stones cause pain or complications such as inflammation, jaundice or pancreatitis, because these tend to recur and can become serious.
Can gallstones be dissolved with medicine?
Not reliably. Dissolution medicines work slowly, only for certain small cholesterol stones, and stones usually re-form once treatment stops. For symptomatic gallstones, removing the gallbladder is the definitive cure.
Concerned about gallstones?
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma offers clear assessment and expert treatment. Book a consultation for personalised advice.