Doctor explains how the diagnosis is made and teaches habits that help prevent the disease
Popularly known as “gallbladder stone”, cholelithiasis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of gallstones (stones) in the gallbladder, an organ located below the right side of the liver. This, in turn, is responsible for the storage of bile, liquid used in the digestion of food and fats that, in contact with other substances, solidifies.
The disease usually appears in people over 50 years of age and, when left untreated, can bring serious complications to the body. Therefore, Dr. Ernesto Alarcon, general surgeon and videolaparoscopy specialist, explains the causes, symptoms and how to treat the problem. Look!
Causes of gallstones
According to Dr. Ernesto Alarcon, one of the main factors responsible for the change in bile production is the cholesterol. However, there are other cases that can also increase the chances of the patient developing the problem, such as:
- Hematological diseases (such as sickle cell anemia);
- Diet high in saturated fats and carbohydrates;
- Obesity;
- Gestation;
- Diabetes;
- High pressure;
- Genetic predisposition;
- Elevated level of estrogen;
- Sedentary lifestyle.
disease symptoms
In some cases, gallstones can be asymptomatic, which sometimes affects treatment0. However, in others, some signs may be presented, and the patient must be attentive. “In symptomatic cases, the main symptom is biliary colic (very intense pain in the epigastrium or upper right quadrant of the abdomen). May be associated with vomiting, fever and even jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin), in more intense cases or with complications”, says the surgeon.
Diagnosis
After identifying some of the symptoms of the disease, it is best to seek help from a professional to take the exams and obtain an accurate diagnosis. “The diagnosis is suspected through the clinical history and confirmed through imaging tests, which can be ultrasound (one of the most common), MRI or CT scan of the abdomen”, explains Dr. Ernesto Alarcon.
As stated by Dr. Ernesto Alarcon, after the diagnosis, the recommended thing is to carry out the treatment as soon as possible. Thus, the patient avoids serious complications, such as:
- Acute cholecystitis (inflammation acute in the gallbladder);
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
- Cholestasis (interruption of the flow of the bile ducts);
- Obstructive ileus (intestinal obstruction due to large stones);
- Sepsis (widespread infection in the bloodstream);
- Peritonitis (infection of the tissue lining the inner wall of the abdomen).
Treatment
Treatment should be indicated according to the case of each patient, because if the stone is small, the professional may recommend the use of medication to remove it. In contrast, patients with larger stones usually undergo surgery.
“The surgery consists of removing the gallbladder and is currently preferably performed laparoscopically (surgery with the making of 3 to 6 holes through which a microcamera enters the region to be operated on). But it can also be performed using a conventional or robotic technique”, reports the surgeon.
Cases in which surgery is indicated
According to information from the Ministry of Health, surgery usually has a quick recovery and presents a low risk of complications. O procedure, as explained by Dr. Ernesto Alarcon, is usually indicated in the following cases:
- Symptomatic patients;
- Porcelain gallbladder (with calcified gallbladder wall);
- Young children with cholelithiasis (because of the difficulty in identifying the pain crisis);
- Paraplegics with spinal cord injury;
- Diabetics;
- Asymptomatic people who share the surgical risk in order to avoid complications.
“After the surgery, rest, effort restriction and a diet low in fats and spices are recommended in the initial postoperative period. Generally, after the first 15 days in surgeries performed by laparoscopy, patients return to normal life, restricted only to physical efforts”, says the specialist.
forms of prevention
In order to avoid the problem, the doctor explains that it is necessary to invest in a healthy diet, avoiding the consumption of fatty and processed foods. As an example of what needs to be avoided, we have ham, sausage, mortadella, fatty fish, oilseeds and processed foods.
“The tip is always to try to consume foods that are fiber sources, for example, raw vegetables and fruits. The more the diet is high in fiber and low in fat, the more the bile is able to keep the cholesterol in its liquid form,” says Dr. Ernesto Alarcon, who also claims that maintaining proper weight is essential.
Source: Maxima
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