Gallstone Surgery
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hardened formations of digestive fluid that form in the gallbladder, a small organ that stores bile to aid in fat digestion.
What are gallstones made of?
Gallstones are hard, pebble-like masses that form in the gallbladder and are primarily composed of cholesterol or bile pigment (bilirubin), along with bile salts. There are two main types: cholesterol gallstones, which are usually yellow-green and made mostly of hardened cholesterol, and pigment stones, which are dark and made of bilirubin
How do I know if I have gallstones?
While many people have gallstones without symptoms, they can cause problems if they block the bile duct or cause inflammation of the gallbladder, leading to pain, nausea, and sometimes jaundice or pancreatitis.
Can gallstones complications be serious?
Complications from gallstone disease can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions like severe infection (sepsis), gangrenous cholecystitis (gallbladder tissue death), perforated gallbladder, and acute pancreatitis. If you experience severe pain, fever, chills, or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), you should seek immediate medical help.
Can gallstones complications be serious?
Complications from gallstone disease can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions like severe infection (sepsis), gangrenous cholecystitis (gallbladder tissue death), perforated gallbladder, and acute pancreatitis. If you experience severe pain, fever, chills, or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), you should seek immediate medical help.
What is the commonest presentation of gallstones?
Pain, otherwise known as biliary colic, which can be sudden and severe in the upper part of the abdomen, especially after a rich meal. The pain can be steady and unyielding which occurs in the middle or right upper abdomen below your rib cage and typically lasts for more than 30 minutes, but less than 8 hours.
What can I do if I get biliary colic or pain with gallstones?
A combination of analgesia such as Paracetamol with a spasmolytic such as Buscopan can be effective in relieving your pain. However it is advisable to see a specialist for rapid diagnosis and to explore your treatment options.
What is the treatment for gallstones?
Treatment for gallstones depends on whether they are causing symptoms. Asymptomatic gallstones may not require treatment, while symptomatic gallstones can be managed with pain relief, antibiotics, or surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). In some cases, endoscopic procedures may be used to remove stones from the bile ducts.
Is there any risk in gallbladder surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)?
Yes, while generally safe, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) carries risks, including damage to bile ducts or internal organs, bleeding, infection, bile leaks, blood clots, and post-surgical digestive issues like diarrhoea. The risk of complications is higher for patients with other medical conditions. You should discuss these potential risks and complications with a specialist to understand your personal risk level and make an informed decision.
About this package
All of our surgery packages include everything you need for your surgery, hospital care and aftercare plan. You can rest assured that everything you need is covered in one package price, and you won’t have to pay more, no matter what.
Gallstone surgery package
£5999
All inclusive package price from
-
Complete hospital stay and surgery -
Postoperative follow up visits -
Open access for postoperative queries
Gallstone Surgery FAQs
How do I know if I have gallstones?
While many people have gallstones without symptoms, they can cause problems if they block the bile duct or cause inflammation of the gallbladder, leading to pain, nausea, and sometimes jaundice or pancreatitis.
Can gallstones complications be serious?
Complications from gallstone disease can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions like severe infection (sepsis), gangrenous cholecystitis (gallbladder tissue death), perforated gallbladder, and acute pancreatitis. If you experience severe pain, fever, chills, or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), you should seek immediate medical help.
What is the commonest presentation of gallstones?
Pain, otherwise known as biliary colic, which can be sudden and severe in the upper part of the abdomen, especially after a rich meal. The pain can be steady and unyielding which occurs in the middle or right upper abdomen below your rib cage and typically lasts for more than 30 minutes, but less than 8 hours.
What can I do if I get biliary colic or pain with gallstones?
A combination of analgesia such as Paracetamol with a spasmolytic such as Buscopan can be effective in relieving your pain. However it is advisable to see a specialist for rapid diagnosis and to explore your treatment options.
What is the treatment for gallstones?
Treatment for gallstones depends on whether they are causing symptoms. Asymptomatic gallstones may not require treatment, while symptomatic gallstones can be managed with pain relief, antibiotics, or surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). In some cases, endoscopic procedures may be used to remove stones from the bile ducts.
Is there any risk in gallbladder surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)?
Yes, while generally safe, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) carries risks, including damage to bile ducts or internal organs, bleeding, infection, bile leaks, blood clots, and post-surgical digestive issues like diarrhoea. The risk of complications is higher for patients with other medical conditions. You should discuss these potential risks and complications with a specialist to understand your personal risk level and make an informed decision.
While many people have gallstones without symptoms, they can cause problems if they block the bile duct or cause inflammation of the gallbladder, leading to pain, nausea, and sometimes jaundice or pancreatitis.
Complications from gallstone disease can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions like severe infection (sepsis), gangrenous cholecystitis (gallbladder tissue death), perforated gallbladder, and acute pancreatitis. If you experience severe pain, fever, chills, or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), you should seek immediate medical help.
Pain, otherwise known as biliary colic, which can be sudden and severe in the upper part of the abdomen, especially after a rich meal. The pain can be steady and unyielding which occurs in the middle or right upper abdomen below your rib cage and typically lasts for more than 30 minutes, but less than 8 hours.
A combination of analgesia such as Paracetamol with a spasmolytic such as Buscopan can be effective in relieving your pain. However it is advisable to see a specialist for rapid diagnosis and to explore your treatment options.
Treatment for gallstones depends on whether they are causing symptoms. Asymptomatic gallstones may not require treatment, while symptomatic gallstones can be managed with pain relief, antibiotics, or surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). In some cases, endoscopic procedures may be used to remove stones from the bile ducts.
Yes, while generally safe, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) carries risks, including damage to bile ducts or internal organs, bleeding, infection, bile leaks, blood clots, and post-surgical digestive issues like diarrhoea. The risk of complications is higher for patients with other medical conditions. You should discuss these potential risks and complications with a specialist to understand your personal risk level and make an informed decision.