Digestive surgery
Gallstones: when is surgery needed?
Gallstones are common and may remain silent. When they temporarily block the outlet of the gallbladder, they often cause pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes after a meal.
Written by the Polycrabat Sevamed team · Published on
In brief
- Gallstones are common and often remain silent: typical pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes after a meal, warrants a consultation.
- Prolonged pain with fever, jaundice or persistent vomiting: urgent assessment.
- Surgery (cholecystectomy, usually by laparoscopy) is discussed according to symptoms and complications, not merely the presence of stones.
Which symptoms change the course of action?
Typical pain that keeps coming back warrants a consultation. Prolonged pain with fever may suggest inflammation of the gallbladder; jaundice may indicate a blockage in the bile ducts. Severe pain with persistent vomiting, fever or jaundice requires urgent assessment. Other digestive or heart conditions can resemble a “gallbladder attack”.
What is the role of surgery?
A gallbladder containing stones but causing no symptoms does not usually require routine surgery. In case of repeated biliary pain or a complication, a cholecystectomy is often discussed, usually by laparoscopy if conditions allow. The benefits, risks and recovery are explained to the patient.
What if a stone is in the bile ducts?
A stone in the bile ducts may require a specific endoscopic procedure. Pancreatitis is another possible complication; like the other complications described above, it requires prompt assessment.
After the operation
The team explains wound care, the return to eating and the warning signs. Most people can live without a gallbladder, but a symptom that persists after surgery should be reassessed rather than automatically attributed to the operation.
Useful questions to ask
- Do my pains really match the stones seen on ultrasound, or is another cause possible?
- Is surgery indicated in my case, by laparoscopy or not, and with what risks?
- Should we look for a stone in the common bile duct?
Frequently asked questions
Should a stone discovered by chance be operated on?
Usually not, except in particular circumstances assessed by the team.
Does surgery remove only the stones?
The usual operation removes the gallbladder that contains them.
This content provides general medical information. It does not replace a consultation or a personalised decision by your care team. In case of serious or sudden symptoms, contact the emergency services in your country or a doctor without delay.
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How is the diagnosis made?
Abdominal ultrasound looks for stones and signs of inflammation. Blood tests assess inflammation and liver function in particular; other tests may look for a stone in the common bile duct. The imaging findings must match the symptoms before concluding that the stones are the cause.