Gallbladder Stones: Causes and Symptoms
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In human body, gallbladder is a tiny organ attached to liver and responsible for storage of extra bile - a substance that facilitates absorption and breaking down of fats - produced by the liver. However, the efficiency of gallbladder is not always uniform and sometimes thick form of bile can lead to blockage in its pathways. This inefficiency may also lead to formation of gallstones in some individuals. Gallstones size may vary from a small grain to a golf ball and causes several acute and chronic complications in body, which may force a patient to undergo gallbladder removal surgery. Even after removal of gallbladder, regular digestion is possible, as bile released by liver will directly reach into the small intestine but storage option is omitted.


Gallbladder removal surgery or cholecystectomy is generally performed to cure gallstones and related complications such as

• Large gallbladder polyps
• Gallstones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
• Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
• Gallstones in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis)
• Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis) caused by gallstones


Causes

Though there is no established fact about formation of gallstones but experts believe that most of the gallstones are a result of high cholesterol, while some formation takes place due to high bilirubin, salt and calcium.
• Regular emptying of gallbladder is necessary in order to maintain proper functioning, failing which bile concentration increases and may lead to stone formation.
• Some issue in liver functions and blood diseases may lead to excess bilirubin formation by liver causing stone formation.
• High cholesterol presence in bile may lead to formation of small stones, as bile is unable to dissolve more cholesterol.


Symptoms

A person having gallstones may experience pain in abdomen area, especially after consumption of fatty foods, which may last for a few hours. Normally, gallstones do not cause any pain but pain occurs when they block the bile movement from gallbladder. Associated symptoms may include indigestion, nausea, burping, dark urine, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea and clay colored stools. The pain in abdomen could intensify suddenly in severe gallstone cases, while some may also experience back pain or pain in right shoulder.


Gallbladder Procedures

There are two types of procedures followed for removing gallbladder stones named as open and laparoscopic surgery.

Open Cholecystectomy

Open cholecystectomy involves making of an incision of 15 cm in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. The procedure generally takes one or two hours and offers permanent relief to the patient from gallstones related issues. People who had some abdominal procedures in past are advised to go for open surgery.

Laparaoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparascopic gallbladder surgery is minimally invasive and most common nowadays. The procedure involves making four small incisions in the abdomen with one surgical tool is attached to the video camera. The operation is guided through a video screen monitor to remove the gallbladder. After an imaging test to ensure proper removal of gallbladder, the patient is shifted to the recovery room. This surgery is not suitable for each patient hence expert surgical consultation based on patient history is required to opt for this procedure.


Gallbladder Removal Surgeries in Nigeria

Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery is the standard procedure to perform minimally invasive surgeries due to faster recovery and lesser incisions. Until now, the practice was not so common In Nigeria due to unavailability of required infrastructure and expert surgeons. They used to travel to foreign locations to avail a cholecystectomy procedure, which cost them dearly.

But, now Nigerians can afford world class cholecystectomy surgery treatments performed by best Indian surgeons in their hometown. Indian surgeons are globally renowned for their surgical and medical expertise to perform laparoscopic gallstone removal procedures. With a proven track record in performing critical surgeries across Nigeria for several years, experienced surgeons are offering successful gallstone removal procedures. In Nigeria, best doctors from India are available through highly professional healthcare networks, who examine carefully each patient’s case followed by thorough counseling. This also helps Nigerian patients to save huge chunk of money owing to travel and stay in India. These platforms follow strict quality procedures for pre-surgical evaluation to avoid any post surgical complication.