Bile duct obstruction
A stone blocking the common bile duct may cause jaundice and liver-related blood-test abnormalities.
Cholangitis
An infected blocked bile duct can cause fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, and potentially life-threatening infection.
Surgery
These are major reasons doctors may recommend surgery rather than simply managing symptoms indefinitely.
Can Gallstones Be Removed Without Removing the Gallbladder?
In selected situations, doctors can remove stones from the common bile duct using a procedure called ERCP.
However, this does not necessarily solve the underlying problem when stones continue forming inside the gallbladder.
Medications capable of dissolving certain cholesterol stones exist, but they work only in selected patients, may require months or years, and stones may return afterward.
Health Conditions
For symptomatic gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder remains a common definitive treatment.
What About “Natural Gallbladder Flushes”?
Online gallbladder cleanses commonly recommend combinations of olive oil, citrus juice, herbs, or other substances.
