Gallbladder Stone: Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment of Cholelithiasis

You may not know exactly what cholelithiasis means, but you have certainly heard of its “most popular name”: gallbladder.

Cholelithiasis or gallbladder stone is the presence of stones within the gallbladder. It is worth mentioning that the gallbladder is a small "sac-shaped" organ, located near the liver, that stores the bile? fluid produced by the liver. After feeding occurs, the gall bladder contracts, releasing bile to the intestine that will come into contact with the food, continuing digestion initiated by the stomach.

Hamilton Funes, Specialist in Morbid Obesity Surgery, Laparoscopic Video Surgery, Digestive Cancer Surgery, Gastroenterology, Intensive Care, Nutrology and General Surgery, Nuclehum Clinic, São José do Rio Preto (SP), points out that the gallbladder is a musculoskeletal sac, containing within it part of the bile continuously produced by the liver.

• Bile is mainly formed of water, bile salts, bilirubin and cholesterol, as well as electrolytes and fatty acids. Is gallstone, or gallbladder lithiasis, formed by precipitation of any of its components under abnormal concentration conditions ?, explains the expert.

According to Funes, the presence of stone (gallstone) in the gallbladder is very common. It is estimated that approximately 20 million people have cholelithiasis in the US. In Brazil, there has been little research on the incidence of cholelithiasis, but some necropsy and ultrasound studies show numbers ranging from 9% to 20% in the population studied ?, highlights.

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Who is the public most affected by cholelithiasis?

Funes explains that according to the international literature, in women between 45 and 55 the incidence of gallbladder fluctuates between 10 to 30%. "While in men, before 70 years, this number is only 5%, and from that age the incidence increases considerably, approaching what happens with women," he says.

Gallbladder Symptoms

The expert explains that most people who have gallstones do not feel any discomfort, since most gallstones are asymptomatic, ie, have no symptoms. ? Usually, the diagnosis is made when the patient undergoes routine examinations ,? says Funes.

However, in some cases, as described by some authors, Funes adds, intolerance to fatty foods causes the gallbladder to contract, causing:

• Malaise;
• Feeling sick;
• Headache;
• Pain in the right side of the abdomen.

"The most suggestive manifestation is the so-called biliary colic, which is characterized by intense, continuous pain and periods of exacerbation (aggravation) on the right side of the abdomen, just below the rib, in the right hypochondrium," says the expert.

How to relieve pain during a crisis

If you have gallstones, what can you do until you go to the doctor to relieve pain?

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• To relieve mild pain, common pain reliever such as oral dipyrone is recommended. In case of severe colic, should the medication be injected ?, advises Funes.

How to diagnose the problem?

Funes points out that the person should seek medical help from the moment they present a symptom, or are diagnosed by an ultrasound.

"The best test for diagnosing gallbladder stones is ultrasound, performed by a specialist," explains the doctor.

Food after diagnosis

In the case of gallstones, a low-fat diet is generally recommended (as bile has the function of digesting them). Therefore, the patient should avoid foods such as fried foods, sausages, red meat, margarine, for example. You should give preference to vegetables, fruits, vegetables and grains in your daily diet. But it is important that all these dietary details be discussed with the doctor.

Gallbladder Treatment

Funes explains that the treatment is the removal of the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, "which today is performed by videolaparoscopy, with excellent prognosis", highlights.

Read also: Adopt healthier habits and get routine checkups

The videolaparoscopy uses three or four small incisions in the abdomen and in one of them enters the high resolution camcorder (which transmits the image to an LCD screen) and in the other incisions enter the surgical instruments. The practitioner then performs the surgery looking at a video monitor and the gallbladder is removed through one of the incisions.

The method is low invasive, fast and usually requires a short recovery time. It is safe and has many advantages over open surgery.

How to avoid gallstones?

Is it possible to avoid this problem? Funes explains that many authors believe there is a genetic factor in the incidence of cholelithiasis. • Use of oral contraceptives may increase the risk of cholelithiasis and may be increased in pregnancy associated with the number of births. In obesity, the incidence increases 3 to 4 times, also appearing frequently when there is a rapid weight loss ?, says.

Thus, some of the main risk factors / groups can be highlighted:

• Genetic predisposition;
• Women mainly between 45 and 55 years old;
• Women who had multiple pregnancies;
• Use of oral contraceptives;
• Obesity;
• Fast weight loss;
• Advanced age.

"Periodic medical follow-up with diagnosis of predisposing factors is the best prevention", concludes the expert.

So remember: If you have any symptoms (such as feeling unwell, feeling sick, headache, and pain in the right side of the abdomen) do not hesitate to see a doctor. But, besides, always do routine exams, as this is one of the best ways to take care of your health, avoiding any kind of problem.

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