Have multiple calculi in gall bladder. Advantages of having it removed?
Patient: I have been diagnosed with multiple calculi in the lumen of the gall bladder . I do not have any symptoms currently but would like to know what s the best thing to do: leave it until there is a symptomatic pain or go for a cholesystectomy? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having the GB removed? I am a vegetarian and do not consume too much fat containing foods but still a bit apprehensive about having an organ removed. Doctor: Hello, thewhizzler, You mention that you have been diagnosed with multiple gallstones. I am sure that the reason you had the sonogram of the gallbladder must have been because of some vague digestive sypmtoms or some abdominal pain. Multiple stones are more problematic than a solitary or single stone. One or more of these stones pass through the bile duct or the channel that brings the bile to the intestine, can get stuck and cause obstruction with severe attack of pain, vomiting and yellow jaundice ,fever etc. This would then become an emergency situation. Small single stone (Cholesterol) without calcium can be treated with medication to dissolve this or even laser treated to pulverize it. It is hard to do this when you have multiple stones. I am glad that you are a vegetarian and avoid fatty, greasy foods. If you have a tendency for gallstone formation, you can't prevent it by diet alone. Good news about surgery is, that can be very safely performed by laparocopic approach with small button holes on the belly without a huge scar like it used to be years ago. Uasually, you go in the morning, have the surgery and you are home by afternoon, ofcourse barring any unusual findings or complications.  Your liver will continue to produce bile that we need for digestive process. Instead of being stored in the gallbladder and released , the bile will get into the intestine directly. Occasionally, you might experience a little diarrhea sometime after the gallbladder is removed, but this temporary. Hope this answers your concerns. I wish you well.