Gallstones are one of the most common reasons patients see a gastro surgeon in Nepal. Here is what they actually are, in plain language.
Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder — a small pouch under the liver that stores bile, a fluid that helps digest fat. When bile contains too much cholesterol or waste product (bilirubin), it can harden into stones ranging from a grain of sand to a golf ball.
पित्तथैलीमा सानो ढुङ्गा जस्तो पदार्थ जम्ने समस्यालाई पित्तथैलीको पथरी भनिन्छ। यो धेरै सामान्य समस्या हो।
Who Gets Gallstones?
Gallstones are more common with age, in women, during and after pregnancy, with rapid weight loss, and in people with a family history of gallstones. Many people have gallstones for years without any symptoms at all — these "silent" gallstones are often found incidentally on a scan done for another reason.
Common Symptoms
- Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, often after a fatty meal
- Pain that spreads to the right shoulder or back
- Bloating, indigestion, or nausea
- In more serious cases: fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
How Are Gallstones Treated?
Silent gallstones without symptoms often just need monitoring. Once gallstones start causing pain or complications, the standard treatment is laparoscopic cholecystectomy — keyhole removal of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is not essential for life; the liver continues to produce bile that flows directly into the digestive system.