I have an 18mm gallbladder stone and my doctor recommended surgery to remove the gallbladder. Is this the best treatment option or are there other alternatives I should consider? I'm a bit worried about the surgery and want to understand if it's really necessary for a stone this size. What would you advise?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

MBBS
6+ Yrs

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An 18mm gallbladder stone is quite large and can cause complications like pain, infection, or blockage. Surgery (cholecystectomy) is generally the best and safest treatment to prevent these issues. While non-surgical options exist, they are less effective for stones this size. I recommend discussing the risks and benefits with your surgeon, but surgery is usually advised in your case.

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Answered 14/08/2025

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