Question 1

My mom is 65 and has gallbladder stones but refuses surgery. We're really worried because she's had them for a while now. Are there any other treatment options besides surgery that could help her?

Accepted Answer

While gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is the most common and effective treatment for gallstones, there are alternative non-surgical options that may be considered, especially if surgery is not an option. These include oral dissolution therapy with medications like ursodiol or chenodiol, which can dissolve cholesterol gallstones, and endoscopic procedures like ERCP to remove stones stuck in the bile ducts

Question 2

My 67-year-old mom has multiple gallstones with the biggest being 8mm. She was told surgery isn't an option because of serious lung problems. She gets pain sometimes and takes painkillers. What else can be done for patients like her who can't have surgery

Accepted Answer

In high-risk surgical cases, dietary fat control and symptom-based management are options for gallstones; ERCP may be considered in case of complications.

Question 3

My wife has been dealing with gall bladder stone pain since February 25th and the stone is 18.3mm in size. Is there any way to dissolve or break it without surgery, especially since she just had a baby 4 months ago and underwent a delivery operation last November? We're really worried about another surgery so soon and want to explore all options first

Accepted Answer

A gallbladder stone measuring 18.3 mm (or 1.83 cm) is considered large and carries a higher risk of complications compared to smaller stones. While smaller gallstones often pass unnoticed, larger ones, particularly those over 1 cm, can lead to blockages in the bile ducts, inflammation, and potentially require surgical removal. A stone of this size, combined with other factors like composition, location, and underlying medical conditions, should be evaluated by a doctor to assess the individual risk and determine the best course of action

Ecg and chest-ray pa view is advised to the patient.

More Gastroenterology/GI medicine Health Queries

My mom is 65 and has gallbladder stones but refuses surgery. We're really worried because she's had them for a while now. Are there any other treatment options besides surgery that could help her?

My 67-year-old mom has multiple gallstones with the biggest being 8mm. She was told surgery isn't an option because of serious lung problems. She gets pain sometimes and takes painkillers. What else can be done for patients like her who can't have surgery

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