Probably most of the surgeon must have done the procedure since the beginning of their surgical career and it is probably the most sought after operation after appendectomy.

Signs & Symptoms / How do stones come in my gall bladder?It is presumed that high fatty contents in diet, imbalance in cholesterol metabolism, hormonal changes and at times hereditary factors can lead to development of gall stones.

How do I know if I have gall stones- You may not come to know about having gall stones if they are silent until you are scanned (ultrasound or sonography) for some other disease in abdomen.

You might have simple complaints like acidity, indigestion, gas formation, bloating sensation in your tummy after having meals specially after fatty diet.

There might be on and off episodes of severe pain in right and upper side of abdomen (Biliary colic) which may last for a while and then subsides of its own.

Sometimes this pain may last for more than 24 hours along with fever, then it is called as Acute Cholecystitis (Calculus- if stones are seen on ultrasound or Acalculus- if stones are not present inside gall bladder. Sometimes it may be life threatening infection in the gall bladder requiring prolonged in hospital stay with use of antibiotics and bed rest.

Why should I get operated for gall stones.

There is controversy regarding whether a patient should opt surgical treatment for silent gall stones or not. In my opinion if patient is diabetic or immunocompromised then he or she should undergo gall bladder removal surgery even if he or she has never experienced any pain in abdomen due to gall stones. Because if any time infection occur in the gall bladder then it can be catastrophic because of diabetes or immuno compromised state.

If patient has multiple stones in gall bladder then it again becomes a choice of operation for me even if they are silent stones. Multiple and small stones are more liable to give rise to complications as they tend to migrate into bile duct.

If you are already suffering from painful attacks or indigestion then you should definitely undergo surgery for gall bladder removal.

What could be the complications of gall bladder stones-

Patient can have repeated episodes of pain abdomen along with simple indigestion and bloating sensation after fatty meals. There can be infection in the gall bladder and need hospitalization.

How stones are removed from gall bladder?

No stones are not removed. Whole gall bladder is removed along with stones.

What are the side effects after removal of gall bladder? 

Infact there are no side effects after the surgery. Patient has to avoid taking fried and fatty meals for the first few weeks. Can have boating sensation specially after fatty diet. But this all normally gets controlled within 2-3 weeks.

Is it a major surgical procedure?

Yes. It is a major surgery. But it a routinely done surgery and normally does not have any complication. Patient is fully anesthetised. Procedure lasts for about 45 minutes and discharge is done within 12 hours normally once you are fully recovered from anesthesia.

How the surgery is done?

Nowadays it is normally done with laparoscopy. We make 4 small ( 5 mm each) incisions on abdominal wall and do the procedure. Normally after 6 months, incision scars are not visible even.

Some surgeons still do it with old conventional technique ie. Open surgical approach which I feel is not bed.

Whether it is done with open technique or laparoscopic technique, it should be done with the technique with which surgeon is more comfortable, confident and have expertise in that.

Can I have normal routine after the surgery?

Absolutely normal routine can be enjoyed after the surgery.