Expert Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstones for Patients in New Jersey
Gallstones Overview
The gallbladder is a small organ situated just below your liver. It mainly helps with digesting fat. Sometimes hard pebbles called Gallstones develop in the gallbladder. This condition is known medically as cholelithiasis. Small and infrequent gallstones usually do not cause problems. However, if you have large or constant gallstones, you probably need the expert gallstones treatment available at Advanced Gastro Center.
Symptoms of Gallstones
When gallstones become a problem, they cause symptoms like abdominal pain, back pain, and nausea and vomiting. Advanced cases may also result in a fever. Gallstones can lead to cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder.
Risk Factors of Gallstones
While it is not entirely certain what causes gallstones, we do know there are some risk factors. High fat and high cholesterol diets, obesity, rapid weight loss, and a family history can all contribute to gallstones. Also, women are more likely to develop gallstones than men.
Diagnosis of Gallstones
There are several good tests to check for gallstones, and doctors at New Jersey Advanced Gastro Center make use of all of these. They include imaging such as MRI and CT. There are also specialized gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures available like HIDA scans and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Treatment of Gallstones
The standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones is a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. You do not require a gallbladder and, with some small diet adjustment, life without a gallbladder is much the same as life before. Also, modern surgical techniques often allow minimally-invasive removal of your gallbladder through laparoscopic surgery. These surgeries do not even require an overnight hospital stay.
At Advanced Gastro Center, our caring gastroenterologists will be with you every step of the way through your gallstone issues. Don’t put off seeking care as your problems may worsen. Contact us today.