Gallbladder Stones: Symptoms, Tests and Treatment Options Explained

What are gallbladder stones?

The gallbladder is a small organ under the liver that stores bile, a fluid that helps digest fats. Gallstones are hard deposits that can form inside it. They range from tiny grains to larger stones, and most are made of cholesterol or bile pigments.

Gallstones are more common in women, in people over 40, in those who are overweight, after rapid weight loss, during pregnancy, and in people with a family history. Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop stones.

Medical illustration showing gallbladder stones beneath the liver, with a magnified view of stones inside the gallbladder.


Do gallstones always cause symptoms?

No. Many people have “silent” stones that are found by chance on an ultrasound done for another reason. Silent stones usually do not need treatment.

When stones do cause symptoms, the typical pattern is:

  • Pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen, sometimes spreading to the back or right shoulder blade
  • Pain that often comes after a heavy or fatty meal and lasts from about half an hour to a few hours
  • Nausea or vomiting, bloating or discomfort after meals

Abdominal pain has many causes, including acidity, ulcers and liver or pancreatic problems, so please do not self-diagnose.

When to seek urgent medical care

Go to a hospital emergency department if you have:

  • Severe abdominal pain lasting more than a few hours
  • Fever with chills
  • Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine or pale stools
  • Persistent vomiting

These can signal complications such as an inflamed or infected gallbladder, a stone blocking the bile duct, or inflammation of the pancreas.

How are gallstones diagnosed?

A doctor will take a history and examine you. An ultrasound of the abdomen is usually the first test. Blood tests such as liver function tests, a blood count and pancreatic enzymes may be ordered. In some cases further imaging, such as MRCP or CT, is needed.

Treatment options

Observation: For silent stones, regular follow-up and attention to new symptoms is often enough.

Diet and lifestyle: These do not dissolve existing stones, but avoiding very fatty meals and losing weight gradually may reduce symptom triggers.

Medicines: Ursodeoxycholic acid can dissolve some small cholesterol stones in carefully selected people. It takes months, does not work for every type of stone, and stones can return after stopping.

Surgery: For stones that cause repeated symptoms or complications, removing the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the usual definitive treatment. It is commonly done by the laparoscopic (keyhole) technique, though open surgery is sometimes needed, and a keyhole operation may have to be converted to open for safety.

Risks to know about

Like any operation, gallbladder surgery carries risks. These include bleeding, infection, bile leak, injury to the bile duct (uncommon but serious), stones left behind in the bile duct, and anaesthesia-related risks. Some people have looser stools or indigestion for a period afterwards. Recovery time varies from person to person.

Questions worth asking your surgeon

  • Do my stones need treatment at all?
  • What are the alternatives in my situation?
  • How do my age, diabetes, heart or lung conditions, or earlier abdominal surgery change the risks?
  • What recovery and diet changes should I expect?

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Please see a qualified doctor for advice about your own condition.

Dr. Aloy J. Mukherjee · MBBS, MS, MNAMS, FALS, FMAS, FIAGES · Registered with Delhi Medical Council · Reg. No. DMC-22291
Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the doctor.

Location: Apollo Hospital, Room No. 1265, Gate No. 10 2nd floor, Indraprastha, Jasola Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110020

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