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Is Surgery Required To Remove Gall Stones?
Dr kiran kumar, my son is26 years old .as he was very skinny .he was asked to take high protien powders .i think it is due to this that he is diagnosed for gall stones. The largest one is 11mm.he does not have pain. It was only incidentally discovered. Does he have to undergo surgery or are there other ways of removing the stones
Mon, 3 Feb 2014
Hello and welcome to HCM,
There are several types of gall stones- cholesterol stones, pigment stones, combined and mixed stones.
The cause of cholesterol and pigment stones is different.
Compound and mixed stones are just a combination of these two types in different proportion.
The morphology- size, shape and color of each of these stones is characteristic.
They can be diagnosed on removal only.
Increased protein intake does not cause formation of gall stones.
Surgery should be taken up when stones are detected.
Long standing stones can cause attack of cholecystitis, the stones can slip into the common bile duct, can cause ulceration of gall bladder mucosa or even pass into the small intestine and can get impacted there.
Stones can even cause cancer of the gall bladder however, the possibility is rare.
Consult your surgeon for further work up and planning of surgery when it suits you.
Now-a-days laparoscopic surgeries are being performed wherein very small incisions are made on the abdomen for removal of the gall bladder with stones.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
There are several types of gall stones- cholesterol stones, pigment stones, combined and mixed stones.
The cause of cholesterol and pigment stones is different.
Compound and mixed stones are just a combination of these two types in different proportion.
The morphology- size, shape and color of each of these stones is characteristic.
They can be diagnosed on removal only.
Increased protein intake does not cause formation of gall stones.
Surgery should be taken up when stones are detected.
Long standing stones can cause attack of cholecystitis, the stones can slip into the common bile duct, can cause ulceration of gall bladder mucosa or even pass into the small intestine and can get impacted there.
Stones can even cause cancer of the gall bladder however, the possibility is rare.
Consult your surgeon for further work up and planning of surgery when it suits you.
Now-a-days laparoscopic surgeries are being performed wherein very small incisions are made on the abdomen for removal of the gall bladder with stones.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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