2023 Medical Science Popularization - Gallbladder Stones

Gallstones are one of the most common gallbladder diseases. Most cases are asymptomatic and are often discovered accidentally during physical examinations. When gallstones are combined with acute or chronic cholecystitis, abdominal pain, bloating, and upper abdominal discomfort may occur, which are often confused with gastric disease. When combined with incarcerated gallstones or acute suppurative cholecystitis, biliary colic symptoms may occur, with severe pain in the right upper abdomen radiating to the right shoulder and back.

Gallstones mainly include cholesterol stones, bile pigment stones, mixed stones and drug-induced stones. Regardless of the type of stones, they cannot escape the multi-directional and multi-faceted exploration of ultrasound, and there is basically no possibility of misdiagnosis. Therefore, ultrasound examination is the main means of diagnosis of this disease, and it is also the most accurate and preferred examination. The typical manifestation is a spotty or mass-like strong echo in the gallbladder cavity, followed by an acoustic shadow, which moves with changes in body position.

[Common complications of gallstones] ① Acute and chronic cholecystitis. ② Intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. ③ Gallstone pancreatitis. ④ Gallbladder cancer. Patients with gallstones have a higher risk of developing gallbladder cancer than normal people. Although the risk of cancer is not very high, once cancer occurs, the prognosis is extremely poor. Therefore, once a tendency to malignancy is found, surgical resection should be performed as soon as possible.

[Treatment of gallstones] ① For gallstones that are asymptomatic and have no other special circumstances on ultrasound examination, as well as drug-induced gallstones, follow-up observation and regular reexamination are sufficient. ② For recurrent symptoms or when ultrasound examination indicates irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall or suspicious space-occupying lesions in the cavity, surgical resection is required as soon as possible. At present, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (minimally invasive) is the preferred surgical method for this disease, with small damage, fast recovery, mild pain, and small scars; followed by open exploratory cholecystectomy and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The doctor will choose the most appropriate treatment plan based on the patient's specific situation.

【Prevention of Gallstones】① Eat regularly and eat breakfast! ② Eat less eggs and fried foods! ③ Exercise more and control your weight!