Gallbladder Stone Treatment in Singapore

What is a Gallbladder Stone?

Your gallbladder can form hardened deposits of digestive fluid in the form of gallstones. The tiny, pear-shaped gallbladder is on the right side of your stomach, directly beneath your liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid released into the small intestine.

Gallstones are as large as a golf ball or as small as a grain of sand. Even though some individuals develop numerous gallstones at one time, others develop just one.

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually required for individuals with gallstone issues. Normally, gallstones with no symptoms do not need treatment.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Early treatment of gallbladder stones may prevent inflammation (cholecystitis), pancreatitis, jaundice, and even gallbladder cancer. Early treatment improves quality of life, minimises discomfort, and avoids repeated stone formation. It also decreases the risk of infection and ensures improved surgical outcomes if surgery is required. Treating gallstones early can avoid more complex health issues, reduce treatment costs, and facilitate recovery.

What are the Common Symptoms of Gallbladder Stones?

Gallstones may not produce any symptoms at all. The following signs and symptoms may occur if a gallstone gets stuck in a duct and clogs it:

• Sudden and rapidly worsening pain in your upper right abdomen
• Sudden, rapidly worsening pain in the centre of your belly, just below your breastbone
• Pain in the area between your shoulder blades
• Your right shoulder aches.
• Nausea or vomiting

Causes and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Stones

Causes

• There is excess cholesterol in your bile. Ideally, the molecules of your bile are enough to dissolve the cholesterol your liver secretes. However, excess cholesterol can crystallise and become stones if your liver secretes more than your bile can dissolve.
• Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Your body makes bilirubin as a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells. Liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infection, and some blood diseases are some conditions that lead your liver to make more bilirubin than it should. The excess bilirubin promotes gallstone formation.

Risk Factors

• Being fat or overweight
• Being inactive
• Having a pregnancy
• Consuming a diet rich in fat
• Consuming a diet rich in cholesterol
• Consuming a diet low in fibre
• Having gallstones in your family
• Having diabetes
• Having blood conditions like leukaemia or sickle cell anaemia
• Rapid weight loss
• Using pharmaceuticals for hormone therapy or oral contraceptives that contain estrogen
• Having hepatic dysfunction

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Gallbladder Stones in Singapore

Recent developments in the treatment of gallbladder stones in Singapore are fascinating, focusing on less invasive methods and improved imaging technologies. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still the go-to procedure for symptomatic gallstones, as it allows for quicker recovery and leaves minimal scars. For those patients who are at a higher risk for surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a great option to remove stones from the bile ducts, offering a non-surgical solution. Additionally, there is the innovative endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided gallbladder drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), which has proven to be a practical choice for treating acute cholecystitis in patients who can’t undergo surgery, demonstrating impressive success rates both technically and clinically.

Gallbladder Stone Prevention Tips

• To prevent gallstones, keep a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fibre to support digestion and lower cholesterol levels.
• Steer clear of processed and fatty foods to minimise cholesterol and saturated fats.
• Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and ensure gallbladder function and bile production.
• Regular exercise also improves digestion and helps with weight control.
• Adding healthy fats to your diet, such as omega-3 fatty acids or olive oil, can help prevent stones and stimulate bile flow. Small, frequent meals also reduce gallbladder pressure and help manage bile production.