Is surgery always necessary for gallstones?
Disease description:
My father was recently diagnosed with gallstones. He is very afraid of undergoing surgery, yet he is also worried that his condition might worsen if he doesn't have the operation. Therefore, I would like to ask the doctor: Is surgery absolutely necessary for gallstones?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gao Jun
In general, surgery is not always necessary for gallstones. Smaller stones usually can be managed without immediate surgery; however, larger stones may require surgical intervention. Patients should seek timely medical care, and the decision regarding surgery should be made by a physician based on a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's condition. Self-assessment regarding the need for surgery is not recommended. The analysis is as follows:
If the stones are small, for example less than 2 cm in size, and the patient experiences mild or no abdominal pain, surgery typically is not required. In such cases, the stones may have minimal impact on gallbladder function, and the condition can potentially be managed through conservative treatment and medication.
However, if the stones are large—greater than 2 cm—or if there are multiple stones, and symptoms such as biliary colic, jaundice, or fever persist or worsen, or if tests reveal significant thickening of the gallbladder wall, calcification of the gallbladder wall, surgery should be actively considered. Larger stones are more likely to cause obstruction, leading to complications such as cholecystitis, cholangitis, or common bile duct stones. These complications can cause severe inflammation and infection, even posing a risk to life.
Patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic gallstones may control their condition by adjusting lifestyle and dietary habits, such as maintaining regular meal patterns, avoiding overeating, reducing intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, and increasing dietary fiber consumption.
