How to Treat Gallstones
Disease description:
My father has been experiencing discomfort in his waist area recently. After a hospital examination, he was diagnosed with gallstones, which don't seem to be very severe at the moment. I would like to ask how gallstones are generally treated.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The main treatment methods for gallstones include the following:
1. Conservative treatment: Applicable to patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms. Adjusting the diet by reducing intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, increasing dietary fiber, controlling body weight, and engaging in regular physical exercise may help eliminate gallstones or slow their progression.
2. Medication therapy: Drugs are used to dissolve gallstones or relieve symptoms caused by them. Commonly used medications include bile acid agents and choleretics. However, long-term medication is usually required, and effectiveness may be limited by the type and size of the stones.
3. Surgical treatment: For larger gallstones or cases with severe symptoms, surgical intervention may be necessary. Common surgical procedures include cholecystectomy and endoscopic stone removal. Cholecystectomy can completely resolve gallstone issues but requires a longer recovery period; endoscopic stone removal is suitable for bile duct stones and offers less trauma and faster recovery.
4. Other treatment methods: Such as pulse wave lithotripsy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, which are applicable to patients with specific types of gallstones.
