Gallstones are small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder. In
most cases, they do not cause any symptoms and do not need to be treated. However, treatment is recommended if you start developing symptoms or if they cause complications.
The typical pain caused by gallstones is called biliary colic, which is intense pain mainly in the
upper part of the right side of the abdomen, that can be radiating to the back or to right shoulder.
This usually last for few hours and improve with taking strong pain killers. Some patients with gallstones can also develop complications such as cholecystitis (inflammation of gallbladder), pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas), and blockage of the main bile duct with stones resulting in jaundice (yellowing of the skin and sclera).
Treatment of gallstones is by removing the gallbladder. This is most commonly done as
keyhole surgery known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. You can lead a normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still produce bile to digest food, but the bile will drip continuously into the small intestine, rather than build up in the gallbladder.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the commonest procedures performed in surgery
and is generally safe. Your surgeon will discuss all the possible risks of the procedure with you and will arrange any necessary preoperative investigations.