Gall bladder stones are a very common ailment. Earlier gall stones were said to be more commonly seen in the North Indian population. As a laparoscopic surgeon in Mumbai, I also see a lot of patients on a daily basis who are suffering from gall stones. Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, with a mix of population from all parts of the country. It is possible that because of population migration from the North India to Mumbai, the incidence of gall stones in this city may have increased steadily.
Gall bladder stones can lead to many kinds of symptoms. Many a times, these can be without any symptoms. Gall stones can lead to symptoms of acidity, fullness in the abdomen, general discomfort in the upper abdomen etc. If the gall bladder becomes infected there may be severe pain and fever. At times, smaller stones may slip out into the bile duct and this may lead to episodes of pain in the right upper abdomen. This is called as the biliary colic. If the stones get stuck into the bile duct they will obstruct the flow of bile into the intestine and lead to jaundice. One of the most catastrophic complications of gall bladder stones is pancreatitis when the stones slip into the pancreatic duct and this leads to severe pain in the abdomen radiating to the back along with severe retching. Pancreatitis is a serious complication and left unrecognized or untreated it can be life threatening.
GallStone Removal in Mumbai depends on a few factors. If the stones are silent and not giving rise to any symptoms as mentioned above, we can wait. However, if the stones are symptomatic and causing problems, it is best to get the surgery done. Smaller stones have a higher chance of slipping out of the gall bladder into the bile duct and pancreatic duct. In my opinion, in such cases also, the surgery must be done at the earliest.
Gall bladder surgery is performed laparoscopically through key holes. 4 tiny cuts of about 0.5 to 1 cm are made in the abdomen and the entire surgery is performed through these. The surgery entails removal of the gall bladder. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on the grade of difficulty of the surgery. Most patients are allowed to start taking oral diet after 6 hours and are discharged from the hospital the next morning. Patients are able to get back to work within a week’s time.
Gallbladder Surgery in Mumbai or laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed general surgeries. Myths and fear of surgery sometimes lead to delay in treatment and may give rise to complications that could have been avoided. If you are detected with stones in the gall bladder, please do visit your surgeon for the right advice.
Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker is a Bariatric Surgeon and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon.
Affiliations: Global Hospital, Parel; Apollo Hospitals, CBD Belapur, Tardeo and Chembur; Currae Hospital, Thane; Suchak hospital, Malad and Namaha Hospital, Kandivali; Belle Vue Hospital, Andheri West for Bariatric Surgery, Hernia Surgery and Gallbladder Surgery etc.
Mobile: +91 9819566618
Email: draparnagovil@gmail.com
Website: www.bestbariatricsurgeon.org , www.aparnagovilbhasker.com
