How to treat gallstones and gallbladder atrophy

Cholelithiasis and gallbladder atrophy require management through dietary regulation, regular monitoring, medication for symptom relief, surgical removal, or endoscopic treatment. The treatment plan should be individualized based on stone size, degree of atrophy, and clinical symptoms to prevent complications. Immediate medical attention is recommended if severe abdominal pain, fever, or jaundice occurs.

1. Dietary Regulation: Reduce intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, avoid overeating, and choose low-fat, easily digestible foods. This helps reduce the burden on gallbladder contraction, minimizes discomfort caused by stone irritation, and slows the progression of gallbladder atrophy.

2. Regular Monitoring: For asymptomatic patients with mild atrophy, ultrasound examinations every 6–12 months are recommended to monitor stone size, extent of gallbladder atrophy, and gallbladder wall thickness. This allows timely detection of disease progression and adjustment of treatment strategies.

3. Medication for Symptom Relief: During episodes of pain, spasmolytic and analgesic medications may be used under medical supervision to relieve symptoms. If inflammation is present, antibiotics are required to control infection. However, medications can only alleviate symptoms and cannot cure gallstones or reverse gallbladder atrophy.

4. Surgical Removal: For patients with symptoms, large stones, or severe atrophy, cholecystectomy via laparoscopy or open surgery is necessary to completely remove the diseased gallbladder. This prevents complications such as stone impaction, recurrent cholecystitis, and potential risk of gallbladder cancer.

5. Endoscopic Treatment: For patients unable to tolerate surgery, endoscopic stone extraction or drainage procedures may be performed to temporarily relieve obstruction and improve symptoms. However, this approach has limited effectiveness in treating an atrophied gallbladder and should be carefully considered.

In daily life, maintain regular meal times, avoid prolonged fasting, engage in moderate physical activity to manage body weight, and maintain emotional stability to reduce the risk of worsening the condition due to metabolic disturbances or psychological stress.