Gallstones
Gallbladder Stone Treatment in Chicago
Gallstones Definition and Symptoms
Gallbladder stones are very common. Formed by hardened bile and cholesterol, gallstones can be tiny or as big as a golf ball. While 10 – 15% of the population have gallstones, only 20% have symptoms. Gallstones occur more commonly in women, overweight patients, during pregnancy and in patients with a high caloric and carbohydrate diet.
Stones usually manifest with episodes of pain in the right upper abdomen following a meal. These episodes normally resolve by themselves but occasionally the pain becomes constant and is accompanied by nausea, vomiting or fever when infection is present (cholecystitis or gallbladder inflammation). Other rare manifestations of gallstone disease are obstructions of the bile ducts; this causes a life-threatening infection called cholangitis or acute pancreatitis. If you have ANY symptoms arising from your gallbladder, we recommend gallstone treatment.
Gallbladder Inflammation Treatment
What is the best approach to the management of gallstones? While oral medications may dissolve gallstones, this method can take months or years of treatment, and gallstones will likely recur. The gold standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones is surgical intervention to remove the gallbladder, which is a same-day procedure if planned electively.
The gallbladder is not necessary to live, and its removal is the only sure way to prevent gallstones from developing again. After surgery, bile will flow directly from the liver into the small intestine, instead of being stored in the gallbladder.
Choose the Chicago Institute of Advanced Surgery
Medical gallstones treatment is among the subspecialties of our highly trained surgeons. At the Chicago Institute of Advanced Surgery, our surgeons utilize state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical equipment and techniques to offer the best experience during — and the fastest recovery after — your gallbladder surgery. If you are experiencing symptoms, do not delay. Schedule a consultation today.