Gallbladder Stone

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile on the anatomical line connecting the right and left lobes of the liver. It is 7-10 cm long. Its lumen can store approximately 30 – 50 ml of liquid. Bile secreted continuously by the liver is normally stored in the gallbladder and flows into the duodenum as needed. The daily total bile secretion is 700-1200 ml, and the maximum volume of the gallbladder is only 30-60 ml. 12-hour bile secretion can be stored in the bladder. Gallstones are formed when solid substances dissolved in the bile in the gallbladder combine to become stones.

Recurrent episodes of abdominal pain; located in the upper right part of the abdomen or above the navel (epigastric), often radiating to the right shoulder blade. The pain usually begins after heavy meals, increases gradually and lasts for several hours without interruption (biliary colic). Nausea and vomiting may accompany the pain. Abdominal bloating and belching may also be observed. Gallstones that do not cause complaints (asymptomatic) are usually detected during abdominal ultrasonography or tomography for other reasons. 3-5% of asymptomatic gallstones become symptomatic each year. In 20 years, about a third of them cause a complaint.

Today, gallbladder surgery is performed by laparoscopic, that is, closed method, except in very rare cases. The operation time is usually less than 1 hour. In the early postoperative period, the patient can stand up, walk and eat. Generally, patients are discharged on the first day of surgery.

In Which Situations Is Gallbladder Surgery Performed?

1. Acute Cholecystitis (Inflammation of the Gallbladder)
2. Symptomatic Cholelithiasis (Gallstone)
3. Positive Bile Culture Carriers of Salmonella
4. Porcelain (Calcified) Gallbladder
5. Sickle Cell Anaemia
6. Those with Gallstones in Children and Adults
7. Gallbladder Polyps
8. Gallbladder Tumors

Who Can Have the Surgery for Gallbladder Stones That Do Not Cause Complaints?

The elderly and those with diabetes,

Those who will not be able to access health care for a long time,

Those with porcelain gallbladder,

Gallstones larger than 3 cm or smaller than 0.5 cm,

Young adults.