The best method for treating gallstones
Disease description:
I have been feeling stomach pain for the past two days, with intermittent episodes of sharp pain. After visiting the hospital, I was diagnosed with gallstones. I would like to know the usual treatment options for this condition.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Common treatments for gallstones:
1. Watchful waiting: For small, asymptomatic stones, doctors may recommend regular checkups and observation, without immediate treatment.
2. Medication: Litholytic drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid can dissolve cholesterol stones, but require long-term administration and have limited success rates; they are applicable only for small cholesterol stones.
3. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): This is primarily used for kidney stones and less commonly for gallstones, because the location and anatomy of the gallbladder and bile ducts make this method less suitable.
4. Open cholecystectomy: In some cases, if the patient is not suitable for laparoscopic surgery or complications arise during surgery, an open procedure may be required.
5. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: This is currently the most commonly used treatment for symptomatic gallstones, especially in cases of recurrent cholecystitis. The gallbladder is removed using laparoscopic techniques through several small incisions, resulting in minimal surgical trauma and faster recovery.
Therefore, patients are advised to seek timely medical evaluation after being diagnosed with gallstones.
