Gallstones therapy

How is the therapy of gallstones carried out?

The therapy of the Gallstones (Biliary colic) is diverse.
Gallstones that do not cause symptoms do not require therapy. Gallstones, which are particularly large, are an exception. If these exceed a critical size of 3 cm in diameter, it can be assumed that they will trigger symptoms in the foreseeable future and lead to gallstone disease.
Then an elective, i.e. planned and not emergency, operation is indicated. A chronic gallstone disease can result in a so-called recurring inflammation Porcelain gall bladder trigger. The name is appropriate because the gallbladder is calcified in the Ultrasound image what porcelain looks like. Since there is always the danger that this porcelain gallbladder will turn into a malignant one tumor (carcinoma), these patients are advised to have an operation when treating gallstones.

Gallstones that are symptomatic should be treated surgically. In almost all cases, the entire gallbladder and the stones in it are removed. The so-called laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed for this purpose.
The surgeon makes four small skin incisions into which surgical instruments are inserted. Under the camera view, the surgeon loosens the gallbladder and removes it through a previously inserted tube. Should the patient belong to a risk group (Adhesions from previous operations or anatomical features), open gallbladder removal is considered.
Instead of the small incisions in the skin, a longer incision is made in the right upper abdomen during this therapy. The surgeon operates under sight. Today the laparoscopic operation method has largely replaced the conventional open one. It is only still used in exceptional cases.

Colic (gallstone disease) can also be treated symptomatically.

The patient is usually given pain medication (Analgesics) and anticonvulsants (e.g. Butylscopolamine) administered. An operation is advisable even after successful treatment of colic (gallstone disease). Is the suspicion of one caused by the gallstones Inflammation of the gallbladder should therapy with Antibiotics be initiated. One treatment option that is rarely used today, however, is dissolving the gallstone with medication.
Therapy must be carried out for two years. The success rate is only 70%. The shattering of gallstones by external shock waves is also used in rare cases. Both of these alternative therapies, however, require a certain stone composition. If there is a gallstone in the bile duct, the above-mentioned ERCP first the bile duct is incised a little and finally the stuck gallstone can be removed with a basket.

You can also find homeopathic approaches to therapy at: Homeopathy for gallstones

forecast

After the gallbladder has been removed, most patients have a good chance of never having gallstone problems (biliary colic) again. In some cases, however, it can still happen that the stones form in the bile duct and cause pain there. Mostly affected are patients who suffer from hereditary gallstones or who have the above Do not (cannot) switch off risk factors. In general, the prognosis after surgery is very good. Non-surgical gallstone treatments have a worse prognosis. As mentioned above, these often only have a 70% success rate.

prophylaxis

Many risk factors, such as age or gender, can of course not be influenced. Change your eating habits (no high-cholesterol, low-fiber diet) and reduce your body weight. Drinking a glass of milk at night is said to cause the gallbladder to empty, reducing the risk of gallstones forming.

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