“Can you remove gallstones without removing the gallbladder?”
I am a 58 year old male. I want to know if you can remove gallstones without removing the gallbladder?
10 Answers
The usual practice is removal of the entire gall bladder along with the stones as it is easier that way and does not need any change or modifications in lifestyle even after the gall bladder is removed
You can remove the gallstones in theory, however, to remove the gallstones, you have to cut into the gallbladder. Once you cut into the gallbladder, you would have to close the gallbladder. Once you close the gallbladder, you now have a risk of that closure not working right. You now have infection risk and inflammation. All of which can cause further problems
within the gallbladder. If someone would go underneath the anesthesia risk and surgical risk to open the gallbladder and remove the stones, that person should have the gallbladder removed. There is no way through minimally invasive means to remove all of the stones from a gallbladder.
within the gallbladder. If someone would go underneath the anesthesia risk and surgical risk to open the gallbladder and remove the stones, that person should have the gallbladder removed. There is no way through minimally invasive means to remove all of the stones from a gallbladder.
*The answer is no.*
The best and standard way to remove gallstones is through gallbladder surgery called cholecystectomy. This surgery is largely performed laparoscopically in surgical candidates, meaning keyhole surgery with small incisions.
*Are there procedures to remove gallstones? Yes and No.*
Yes, there are procedures to remove gallstones that have exited the gallbladder, but are stuck in the ducts that drain bile to the gut. A common such procedure is called an ERCP done using a specialized scope through the mouth. Another is surgery.
No, there are no procedures to remove gallstones from the gallbladder itself without removing the gallbladder. The standard of care is cholecystectomy. Nonetheless, if a patient has gallstone issues that manifest outside of the gallbladder (pancreatitis, stones in the common bile duct, etc.), the recommendation is to also address the gallbladder, which is the nidus of the stones as to prevent further sequelae.
*Are there medications to remove gallstones? No.*
There are no medications to remove gallstones that are present in a gallbladder. There are, however, medications that may be used to prevent the formation of gallstones in certain circumstances by physicians. An example is Ursodiol.
*Are there diets to remove gallstones? No.*
While diet is important to prevent gallstone disease, once a person has gallstones, there is no diet to make the existing gallstones go away. Please note, once someone has gallstones that are causing issues, pain, etc., the stones are too big and are clogging the pipes that bile (the digestive juice that comes from the liver and gallbladder) travels through to go to the gut. This can lead to illness ranging from issues like intermittent nausea/pain to frank infection leading to severe illness and death. Therefore, it is paramount to consult with a physician for the appropriate indicated care. It is easier to fix/manage little problems, than to wait till they become complex issues.
The best and standard way to remove gallstones is through gallbladder surgery called cholecystectomy. This surgery is largely performed laparoscopically in surgical candidates, meaning keyhole surgery with small incisions.
*Are there procedures to remove gallstones? Yes and No.*
Yes, there are procedures to remove gallstones that have exited the gallbladder, but are stuck in the ducts that drain bile to the gut. A common such procedure is called an ERCP done using a specialized scope through the mouth. Another is surgery.
No, there are no procedures to remove gallstones from the gallbladder itself without removing the gallbladder. The standard of care is cholecystectomy. Nonetheless, if a patient has gallstone issues that manifest outside of the gallbladder (pancreatitis, stones in the common bile duct, etc.), the recommendation is to also address the gallbladder, which is the nidus of the stones as to prevent further sequelae.
*Are there medications to remove gallstones? No.*
There are no medications to remove gallstones that are present in a gallbladder. There are, however, medications that may be used to prevent the formation of gallstones in certain circumstances by physicians. An example is Ursodiol.
*Are there diets to remove gallstones? No.*
While diet is important to prevent gallstone disease, once a person has gallstones, there is no diet to make the existing gallstones go away. Please note, once someone has gallstones that are causing issues, pain, etc., the stones are too big and are clogging the pipes that bile (the digestive juice that comes from the liver and gallbladder) travels through to go to the gut. This can lead to illness ranging from issues like intermittent nausea/pain to frank infection leading to severe illness and death. Therefore, it is paramount to consult with a physician for the appropriate indicated care. It is easier to fix/manage little problems, than to wait till they become complex issues.
Typically no. The gallbladder is removed because it is the culprit making the gallstones. If gallstones were removed only, the gallbladder would just make more.
Yes, one could remove the gallstones without removing the gallbladder, but no one should. The gallbladder will quickly make new stones and the symptoms and risks would therefore return. Finally, the surgical risks to removing the stones would be very similar to those from removing the gallbladder and stones.
Well, in the late 1800's that was the treatment, but it was soon discovered that it was the gallbladder that was the problem, because the stones just re-formed and caused problems again. So then the gallbladder was removed and the pain stopped.
No
Your gallbladder is the issue. Removing stones would temporarily improve your condition, but removing only gallbladder stones comes with a huge risk of leakage from the gallbladder. Recommend removing.
They can be dissolved with medications but not all of them. Eventually, most people get their gallbladder removed.
No. The stones typically re-form. The likelihood of having a complication by cutting into the gallbladder, removing the stones, and then trying to sew up the gallbladder again is extremely high. The likelihood of having a complication by removing the gallbladder with the stones inside is very low.
