Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Gall Bladder Calculus

Nowadays, stones are a common occurrence.  Some people have a stone related problem in the kidneys and some in the gallbladder. Most people tend to ignore the occurrence of calculus or take it lightly, but we advise you to not repeat their mistake because the occurrence of Gallbladder stones only once can increase the risk of developing cancer later on.

When cholesterol is not dissolved completely in the gallbladder, it eventually takes the form of a calculus. Small-sized calculus can easily pass out of the body, but large size calculus is extremely dangerous.

There are no particular reasons for the formation of gallbladder stones, but doctors believe that stones can develop because of the following reasons:

High cholesterol

Generally, high cholesterol creates many complications in our body and it may lead to cholestasis which is primarily a stagnation of the flow of the bile juice. This ailment is also correlated with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol in the blood) which may eventually lead to the formation of gallstones.

 

High bilirubin production

Bilirubin is a chemical that is formed in our body during the time when our liver destroys old red blood cells. In some situations such as damaged liver or blood disorders, our liver starts to produce more bilirubin than required, which in the long run can lead to the formation of calculus.

 

The gallbladder not getting emptied

The gallbladder is not completely empty at all times and when this happens the bile juice becomes concentrated, and this could lead to the formation of gallstones.

Sometimes, even after having a calculus in the gallbladder, we don’t feel anything unless the calculus (gallstone) creates a blockage in the gallbladder or until it starts to pain.

Here are some symptoms of gallbladder calculus-

• Sudden and rapid pain in the upper right side of your abdomen
• Severe pain in the area between the stomach and the chest
• Pain in the back of the shoulder
• Pain in your right shoulder
• Vomiting

The following tests are done for the diagnosis of gallbladder calculus-

1) Ultrasound

An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to take live images from the inside of your body which can reveal the exact location of the calculus in the gallbladder, it is the most common test done to diagnose the presence of calculus.

2) Abdominal CT Scan

The CT scan is prescribed by the doctor to diagnose small calculus which is not clearly visible in an Ultrasound Scan of the gallbladder, after which the doctor can start the treatment.

 

3) Blood Tests

Blood tests can easily show any infection caused by calculus. A complete blood count, or CBC test, can help confirm an infection if there is a presence of a large number of white blood cells.  It is imperative to stop the infection at an early stage. Such infections are mostly treated by prescribing antibiotics.

 

Treatments for Gallbladder Calculus

1) Gallstones Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

If gallbladder calculus formation becomes more frequent, then your doctor can advise you to surgically remove your gallbladder. Once it is surgically removed, the bile will start flowing directly from your liver into the small intestine. People generally have no problem after the removal of the gallbladder as our livers produce enough bile juice. After the surgery, people are advised to consume foods with a low-fat content.

 

2) Medication

Gallbladder stones can also be treated by taking medication. The drug Actigall (ursodiol) is prescribed to be taken orally. However, depending on the size of the calculus, it may take months or even years before it gets dissolved in the body.

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