The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores bile. Stones form when bile becomes too concentrated with cholesterol or pigment. They may cause no symptoms for years, or cause pain attacks and complications such as gallbladder inflammation, jaundice or pancreatitis.
Gallstones are more common in women, after pregnancy, with obesity, diabetes and rapid weight loss. Read gallbladder stone symptoms.
See a doctor urgently if: fever with pain, yellow eyes or dark urine (jaundice), or severe upper pain going to the back with vomiting (possible pancreatitis). See gallstone pain vs acidity.
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Silent stones, no risk features | Monitoring; learn warning signs |
| Stones causing pain | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (definitive) |
| Acute cholecystitis | Antibiotics and early keyhole surgery |
| Stone in the bile duct / jaundice | ERCP to clear the duct, then gallbladder removal |
| Polyp ≥ 10 mm, large stones, porcelain gallbladder | Surgery usually advised |
Medicine to dissolve stones works only for a small group of small cholesterol stones — read can gallstones dissolve without surgery and silent gallstones.
Read more about Dr. Bhupendraa Prrasad.
Surgery and discharge for most.
Mild pain, shoulder-tip gas pain settles.
Back to desk work.
Normal activity; diet back to normal over weeks.
Every patient is different — your own timeline is explained at consultation.
Cost depends on the type of surgery (laparoscopic or robotic), whether there is inflammation or a bile duct stone needing ERCP, length of stay, tests and room category. A clear estimate is given after reviewing your reports.
Gallbladder surgery is generally covered by health insurance, subject to your policy's waiting periods for planned procedures. The hospital desk can help with cashless approval.
Gallstone patients come to Bombay Hospital, Vijay Nagar from across Indore and from Dewas, Ujjain, Dhar, Mhow, Pithampur, Khargone, Khandwa, Ratlam and Shajapur.
Call or WhatsApp to book an OPD time at Bombay Hospital, Vijay Nagar, Indore — or send your reports for an opinion.