Asymptomatic Gallstones — incidentally found; most do not need immediate surgery but require monitoring
Biliary Colic — episodic right upper abdominal pain after fatty meals; elective cholecystectomy recommended
Acute Cholecystitis — inflamed gallbladder; requires urgent admission, IV antibiotics and early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (within 72 hours)
CBD Stones — stones in the bile duct causing jaundice; ERCP stone removal followed by cholecystectomy
Gallstone Pancreatitis — gallstone blocking pancreatic duct outlet; managed with IV fluids, analgesia, then cholecystectomy after recovery
Mirizzi Syndrome — gallstone compressing the bile duct; complex biliary surgery required
Treatment at Charak Hospital
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy — day-care surgery; standard of care for symptomatic gallstones
Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (within 72 hours of admission)
ERCP for CBD stone clearance — available at Charak Hospital with experienced gastroenterology team
Choledochotomy and T-tube drainage for complex CBD stones when ERCP fails
Open cholecystectomy for very acute, gangrenous or perforated cholecystitis
Frequently Asked Questions
Asymptomatic gallstones in otherwise healthy adults generally don't need immediate surgery — only 20–30% ever become symptomatic. However, surgery is recommended for: stones >3 cm (cancer risk), porcelain gallbladder, patients with sickle cell disease, or those undergoing bariatric surgery.
For the first 2–4 weeks: low-fat diet, small frequent meals. After that, most patients can eat normally. The liver continues to produce bile which flows directly into the small intestine — the gallbladder is not essential for digestion.
Elective cholecystectomy is usually performed 2–6 weeks after successful ERCP stone clearance. Early cholecystectomy (within 2 weeks) reduces the risk of recurrent biliary events and is preferred when the patient is fit for surgery.
📍 Consult Dr. Ashok Kumar — Charak Hospital, Lucknow
