Gallston e

The gall bladder stores and releases bile juice that helps in digesting fats. Sometimes, stone-like objects made up of bilirubin or cholesterol develop in the gall bladder or the bile duct. If left untreated they can cause pain and discomfort, besides other complications. Gall stones can eaily be removed with the help of minimal invasive surgery.

The size of gall stones can vary from a tiny grains of sand to a golf ball. The most interesting fact about gall stones is that the small ones cause the maximum trouble while the larger ones remain quietly in the gall bladder for years without causing any problem and do not require any treatment.

Why do gall stones develop?

Gall stones may develop in the following instances:

• People suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.
• People having blood disorders.
• During pregnancy
• Rapid weight loss

What are the symptoms of gall stones?

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Jaundice.
• Associated pain in the right shoulder.
• Chest pain.

What is the treatment for gall stones?

The most common treatment of gall stones is the surgical removal of gall bladder. The procedure is called cholecystectomy. In majority of the cases this can be performed laparoscopically which is a minimally invasive technique. The procedure is commonly done with the ercp (endoscopic retrogade cholangiopancreatography procedure).