Gallstones treatment ranges from watchful waiting to minimally invasive surgery, depending on your symptoms and overall health.
- Symptoms matter most. Silent gallstones rarely need treatment, but symptomatic ones require prompt medical attention to prevent serious complications.
- Surgery is the gold standard. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the most effective and widely recommended gallstones treatment for symptomatic cases.
- Non-surgical options exist. Medications and endoscopic procedures offer alternatives for patients who are not surgical candidates.
Gallstones treatment is one of the most common reasons patients visit a gastroenterologist — and for good reason. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), gallstones affect nearly 25 million Americans each year. Yet many people have no idea what their treatment options are until they are already in pain.
This guide breaks down every major gallstones treatment near you, from surgery to medication to endoscopic procedures, so you can walk into your doctor’s appointment informed and prepared.
What Are Gallstones and Who Gets Them?
Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that form inside the gallbladder or bile ducts. They develop when the balance of substances in bile — cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts — is disrupted, causing those materials to crystallize into solid fragments.
They range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Some people develop a single stone. Others develop dozens at once.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, at least 10% of U.S. adults have gallstones, and up to 75% of diagnosed cases occur in women. However, only about 20% of those diagnosed will ever experience symptoms or require treatment.
What Symptoms Signal That You Need Gallstones Treatment Near You?
Not all gallstones require treatment. “Silent” gallstones cause no symptoms and are often discovered incidentally during imaging for another condition.
Gallstones that block the flow of bile, however, produce symptoms that can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Mayo Clinic notes that symptomatic gallstones typically cause:
- Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen
- Pain radiating to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and rapid heart rate (signs of infection)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark urine and light-colored stools
Episodic pain that builds and then fades is called biliary colic. It signals a temporary blockage. If the blockage becomes permanent, it can lead to serious complications, including cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), pancreatitis, cholangitis, and sepsis.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical evaluation promptly. Do not wait for the pain to resolve on its own.
How Are Gallstones Diagnosed Before Treatment?
Before recommending a gallstones treatment plan, your physician will confirm the diagnosis using one or more of the following tests:
- Abdominal ultrasound — the most common first-line imaging tool, and highly accurate for gallbladder stones
- CT scan (computed tomography scan) — provides detailed cross-sectional imaging to detect complications
- MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) — a non-invasive MRI-based test that visualizes the bile ducts in detail
- Endoscopic ultrasound — uses a small camera passed through the digestive tract to detect smaller stones missed by standard ultrasound
- ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) — both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool that can remove stones from the bile duct during the same procedure
- Blood tests — detect signs of infection, inflammation, jaundice, or pancreatitis
Your physician will determine which combination of tests is appropriate based on your symptoms and medical history.
What Are the Surgical Options for Gallstones Treatment Near Me?
Surgery is the most reliable and permanent form of gallstone treatment. The Cleveland Clinic confirms that removing the gallbladder is the only way to ensure gallstones do not recur.
What Is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Is It Right for You?
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most commonly performed gallstones treatment worldwide. A surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen and uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments to remove the gallbladder.
The procedure typically takes one to two hours. Most patients go home the same day or the following morning and return to normal activities within one week, according to the Mayo Clinic. Scarring is minimal, and post-operative pain is significantly lower than with open surgery.
You do not need your gallbladder to live well. After removal, bile flows directly from the liver to the small intestine. Some patients experience temporary loose stools during the adjustment period, but this typically resolves on its own.
When Is Open Cholecystectomy Necessary?
Open cholecystectomy involves a single larger incision in the abdomen. Surgeons typically reserve this approach for complex cases — such as when the gallbladder is severely inflamed, when a laparoscopic procedure encounters complications, or when the patient has had prior abdominal surgeries that create scar tissue.
What Is Cholecystostomy and When Is It Used?
Cholecystostomy is a minor procedure in which a physician places a small tube (catheter) into the gallbladder to drain it. This is used as a temporary measure for patients who are too ill or medically fragile to undergo full gallbladder removal surgery. It relieves the immediate blockage but is not a permanent solution.
What Non-Surgical Gallstones Treatment Options Are Available?
Non-surgical gallstones treatment is reserved for patients who cannot undergo surgery due to advanced age, serious underlying health conditions, or other medical contraindications. These options are less effective than surgery and typically do not prevent recurrence.
Can Medications Dissolve Gallstones?
Two oral medications are used to dissolve cholesterol-based gallstones: ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix). Both work by reducing the amount of cholesterol secreted in bile, gradually breaking down smaller stones over months to years.
The Mayo Clinic notes that these medications are not commonly prescribed because they are slow-acting, only effective on small cholesterol stones, and gallstones frequently return once treatment stops. They may be used preventively in patients undergoing rapid weight loss, who are at elevated risk of stone formation.
What Is ERCP and How Does It Treat Gallstones?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic procedure used primarily to remove stones that have traveled out of the gallbladder and become lodged in the bile duct. A physician passes a flexible tube with a camera through the mouth and into the small intestine, then uses instruments through the scope to extract the stone.
ERCP does not remove the gallbladder. Patients who have stones removed this way may still require cholecystectomy to prevent future episodes.
What Is ESWL and Is It an Effective Gallstones Treatment Near Me?
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses targeted sound waves to break gallstones into smaller fragments that can then pass through the bile duct. This approach is rarely used for gallstone disease in current practice and is generally reserved for patients who are not candidates for surgery and have a limited number of small cholesterol stones.
When Is Watchful Waiting Appropriate Instead of Gallstones Treatment?
Watchful waiting — also called expectant management — is appropriate only for patients with truly asymptomatic gallstones. If you have no pain, no complications, and your stones were found incidentally, your physician may recommend monitoring rather than immediate intervention.
However, once gallstones have caused a blockage, they are very likely to do so again. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for patients who have already experienced a gallbladder attack, biliary colic, or any complication such as cholecystitis or pancreatitis.
Choose watchful waiting if:
- Gallstones were discovered incidentally on imaging
- You have no pain or digestive symptoms
- Your physician has confirmed no signs of complications
- You understand that symptoms may develop and have a plan to seek care promptly if they do
Choose active gallstones treatment if:
- You have had one or more gallbladder attacks
- Your symptoms are frequent or worsening
- Imaging shows signs of infection or bile duct obstruction
- Your physician has identified complications such as cholecystitis or pancreatitis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To help you navigate your diagnosis and understand your care options, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about gallstones treatment near you.
How do I know if I need gallstones treatment near me?
Gallstones that cause symptoms, including upper right abdominal pain, nausea, fever, or jaundice, require medical evaluation and likely treatment. Silent gallstones with no symptoms may be safely monitored, but any episode of pain or a gallbladder attack warrants a prompt consultation with a gastroenterologist.
Is gallbladder removal surgery safe?
Yes. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world and carries a very low complication rate. Most patients go home the same day and recover fully within one week. Living without a gallbladder does not affect your ability to digest food normally.
Can gallstones go away without treatment?
No. Gallstones do not dissolve or disappear on their own. They continue to grow over time. While some small stones can pass through the bile duct and exit the body, this is not predictable or guaranteed. Gallbladder removal remains the only permanent solution for gallstone disease.
How long does gallstones treatment with medication take?
Oral medications such as ursodiol (Actigall) may take months to years to partially dissolve small cholesterol gallstones, and stones frequently return after treatment ends. Medications are not a first-line treatment and are generally reserved for patients who cannot undergo surgery.
What is the difference between gallstones and kidney stones?
Gallstones form in the gallbladder or bile ducts and cause pain in the upper right abdomen. Kidney stones form in the urinary tract and cause flank pain, painful urination, or blood in the urine. The two conditions are unrelated and require different treatments.
Find Gallstones Treatment in Austin
If you are experiencing symptoms of gallstones or have recently been diagnosed, finding expert care is the most important next step. If you are searching for gallstones treatment near you in the Austin, Texas, area, Austin Gastroenterology has been Central Texas’s trusted leader in gastroenterology and liver care since 1980.
The team at Austin Gastroenterology includes dedicated gastroenterologists and surgeons experienced in diagnosing and treating all forms of gallstone disease. Our practice offers:
- Advanced diagnostic imaging and endoscopic evaluation
- Minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- Endoscopic procedures, including ERCP for bile duct stones
- Non-surgical treatment options for appropriate candidates
- Comprehensive post-treatment follow-up and digestive health care
Getting the right diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan makes all the difference. Call the Austin Gastroenterology office nearest you today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward resolving your gallstone symptoms for good.
