Gallbladder stones, or gallstones, may not seem like a serious issue at first. Indeed, some individuals may even have them without being aware of them due to having no symptoms. For others, these solidified, hardened material deposits inside the gallbladder can lead to some uncomfortable and serious health issues. Whether gallbladder stones are a serious issue or not is different for each person and for each case, depending a lot on the size, number, and symptoms of gallstones. Some people can gain relief from gallstones by changing their way of life; others need to have Gallbladder stone removal surgery. In this article, we will discuss gallstones and when their size becomes dangerous.
What are Gallbladder stones?
Gallbladder stones are hardened, concentrated crystals of bile juice in the bile duct or gallbladder. Bile is made in the liver and moved through a series of bile ducts to various parts of the body. Gallstones can also be referred to as bile stones. Not all gallstones will cause a problem for a person; they may have gallstones that they don’t know about. However, in other cases, gallstones that travel through the bile ducts and become stuck somewhere among the bile ducts or gallbladder can close up the biliary tract and cause pain as well as serious complications. Gallstones, in that case, can cause many symptoms such as sweating, fast heart rate, fever, tenderness, pain in the upper right abdomen, dark urine and stool, and yellowish skin and eyes.
What Size of Gallstones Is Dangerous?
There is no definite guideline that larger stones are always more dangerous. Small Gallbladder stones can cause significant issues, but in general, there are certain size brackets that are associated with an increased risk of complications. These include:
- Stones Less Than 5 mm: These may pass into the bile duct, causing obstruction or pancreatitis if there are multiple small stones.
- Stones Greater Than 2 cm (20mm): They are likely to cause problems like:
- Chronic inflammatory process
- Gallbladder dysfunction
- Increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer (rare but important)
In general, asymptomatic stones (of any size) will not require urgent surgical care. While symptomatic Gallbladder stones, especially larger ones, will likely be treated surgically (typically laparoscopic cholecystectomy).
By now, we have discussed that gallstones might come in different shapes and sizes, and hence, cause different symptoms in different patients. Individuals experiencing the symptoms associated with gallbladder stones must make sure to get themselves evaluated medically, in order to understand their case better, and facilitate an appropriate treatment approach.
If you are looking for the Best hospital for gallbladder stone or the Best doctor for gallbladder stone, Sohana Hospital might be the right choice for you. Sohana Hospital Mohali boasts of the world’s most advanced cutting-edge technology and North India’s leading Gastroenterologists and Surgeons who provide the Best treatment for gallbladder stone, in the most patient-centric approach. Book your appointment today and take the first step towards a healthy and pain-free future!