Gallbladder stones are hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can cause right-upper-abdomen pain, especially after fatty meals. The definitive treatment is laparoscopic gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy), a safe day-care keyhole surgery.
Severe pain with fever, yellowing of eyes, persistent vomiting
| Definition | Hardened deposits formed in the gallbladder |
| Who | More common in women, with age, obesity & rapid weight loss |
| See a surgeon | Recurrent pain, jaundice, fever, or pancreatitis |
| Urgency flags | Severe pain with fever, yellowing of eyes, persistent vomiting |
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or bile pigment that form in the gallbladder. Many are silent, but some block the gallbladder outlet or bile duct, causing pain and complications.
Symptoms & causes
The classic symptom is colicky pain in the right upper abdomen, often after fatty food, sometimes spreading to the back or shoulder. Risk rises with obesity, rapid weight loss, female sex and family history.
Diagnosis
An ultrasound is the main test and detects stones accurately. Blood tests and an MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound assess the bile duct when a stone may have slipped into it.
Treatment options
Symptomatic gallstones are treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy — keyhole removal of the gallbladder. It is among the most common and safest operations, usually done as day-care surgery with quick recovery.
How we treat Gallbladder Stones (Gallstones)
Gallbladder Stone
Key-hole removal of the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) — the definitive, day-care treatment for painful gallstones.
View treatment → Robotic Gallbladder Surgery
Robot-assisted (including single-site) gallbladder removal for complex or difficult gallstone disease — enhanced 3D vision for a safe view of the bile-duct anatomy and a near-scarless result.
View treatment →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
Read case →Visiting consultations near you
Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
Medicines rarely dissolve stones reliably and they often recur. For symptomatic stones, keyhole gallbladder removal is the definitive, lasting solution.
Yes. The liver continues to make bile, and the vast majority of people digest food normally after gallbladder removal.
It is usually a safe day-care keyhole procedure with small cuts, minimal pain and a return to routine within about a week.
Untreated stones can cause infection, jaundice, pancreatitis, or — over years — raise gallbladder cancer risk, so symptomatic stones should be treated.
Cost depends on technique, hospital and complexity, so ask for a personalised estimate. Choose an MCh-qualified surgical gastroenterologist with high case volumes — Dr. Avinash Tank has performed 10,000+ GI & bariatric surgeries at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
लक्षण वाली पित्ताशय की पथरी के लिए लैप्रोस्कोपिक कोलेसिस्टेक्टॉमी (कीहोल सर्जरी) सबसे सुरक्षित और स्थायी इलाज है, जो आमतौर पर डे-केयर सर्जरी के रूप में की जाती है।
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole surgery) se gallbladder nikala jaata hai — yeh ek safe, day-care procedure hai jisme jaldi recovery hoti hai.
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