How to Treat Gall Stones

Gallstones form when components in the bile crystallize into a solid. They are typically composed primarily of cholesterol, but they may also contain pigments. Many people have gallstones, but it's rare that they cause pain. The objective of the treatment for gallstones is generally to make the gallstone smaller or to prevent new gallstones from forming.

Things You'll Need

• Indomethacin
• Ketorolac
• Meperidine
• Chenodiol
• Ursodiol

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Instructions

• 1

  Observe asymptomatic gallstones. A doctor may discover a "silent" gallstone during an examination for an unrelated condition. Silent gallstones usually don't receive treatment unless you have a high risk of complications from gallstones, such as gallbladder cancer.

• 2

  Take medication for the pain caused by gallstones. You may receive treatment only for pain if you have no underlying medical conditions. Indomethacin (Indocin) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can also make it easier to empty the gallbladder. Additional drugs commonly prescribed for gallbladder pain include ketorolac (Acular) and meperidine (Demerol).

• 3

  Receive antibiotics for infections due to gallstones. You may need intravenous antibiotics if you have signs of infection such as a fever or high white blood cell count. A doctor may also administer antibiotics without any signs of infection if you have severe symptoms that don't improve within 24 hours.

• 4

  Dissolve the gallstones. Your doctor may prescribe bile salts such as chenodiol (Chenix) or ursodiol (Actigall). These drugs have side effects that include mild diarrhea and an increase in cholesterol level. You'll typically need to take bile salts for years to prevent the gallstone from recurring.

• 5

  Remove the gallbladder surgically. This procedure is called a cholecystectomy and is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. A cholecystectomy is almost always performed with a laparoscope, which is a flexible metal tube. The surgeon inserts the laparoscope through an incision in the abdomen and severs the cystic duct. The surgeon then removes the gallbladder through the incision.