Specialist Surgeon
MS, DNB, FNB(Minimal Access Surgery)
Member of Royal College of Surgeon (MRCS), UK
1st floor, Flat No 8, Al Naboodah Bldg, Beside Civil Defence, 2nd December street, Bur Dubai, PO Box No 126590, Near Jumeriah 1- Dubai.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that form inside the gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ located under your liver on the right side of your abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fats. While the liver continuously produces bile, the gallbladder stores it and releases it into the intestines when needed during digestion.
Over time, components in bile—mainly cholesterol or bilirubin—can crystallize, forming gallstones that vary in size from a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Some people may have a single stone, while others develop multiple stones.
When gallstones block the bile ducts, they can cause pain, nausea, and inflammation, requiring gallbladder removal surgery. The most effective and widely accepted treatment today is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy—a minimally invasive keyhole surgery that safely removes the diseased gallbladder.
When gallstones cause symptoms, the most effective treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder.
This can be done either by laparoscopic cholecystectomy—the gold standard procedure or by open cholecystectomy.
Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery is a safe, minimally invasive procedure where the surgeon makes 3–4 small incisions in the abdomen. Through these keyholes, a miniature camera and delicate instruments are inserted to detach and remove the gallbladder.
The camera provides a magnified, high-definition view of the internal organs, allowing the surgeon to operate precisely and safely. Once removed, the gallbladder is extracted through one of the small incisions.
In rare cases where laparoscopic removal is not feasible due to complications or scar tissue, the surgeon may need to convert to open gallbladder surgery for safety.
While the exact cause of gallstone formation isn’t always clear, several factors contribute:
⦁ Excess cholesterol in bile – When bile contains more cholesterol than it can dissolve, crystals form and gradually turn into stones.
⦁ High bilirubin levels – Liver diseases, biliary infections, or blood disorders like sickle cell anemia can increase bilirubin production, leading to pigment stones.
⦁ Incomplete emptying of the gallbladder – When the gallbladder doesn’t empty efficiently, bile becomes concentrated and prone to stone formation.
⦁ Cholesterol Gallstones – The most common type, usually yellowish and made primarily of undissolved cholesterol.
⦁ Pigment Gallstones – Dark brown or black stones that form due to excess bilirubin.
⦁ Mixed Gallstones – Contain a combination of cholesterol, calcium, and bilirubin; most patients have mixed stones.
Gallstones often cause symptoms when they block the flow of bile. Common gallbladder stone symptoms include:
This condition is known as biliary colic. Repeated or severe attacks can lead to complications and may require emergency gallbladder surgery.
If left untreated, gallstones can cause serious complications, including:
⦁ Acute Cholecystitis – Inflammation of the gallbladder causing severe pain and fever
⦁ Bile Duct Blockage – Leading to jaundice or bile duct infection
⦁ Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas when a gallstone blocks the pancreatic duct
⦁ Gallbladder Cancer – Although rare, a long history of gallstones can increase the risk
You are more likely to develop gallstones if you:
The gallbladder is only a storage organ; its removal doesn’t affect digestion or long-term health. After surgery, bile produced by the liver flows directly into the intestine through the bile duct, continuing to aid in digestion.
Patients can eat normally, live fully active lives and do not require any long-term dietary restrictions. Most individuals return to regular diets and daily routines within a few days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
If you’re suffering from gallstones, gallbladder pain, or recurrent indigestion, consult a specialist gallbladder surgeon in Dubai for evaluation.
At our clinic, Dr. Murtaza Pithawala, a board-certified laparoscopic and general surgeon in Dubai with over 25 years of experience, offers expert diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder diseases using advanced keyhole surgery techniques for optimal comfort and faster recovery.
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Gallstones can cause sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, back pain below the shoulder blade, nausea, and vomiting. The pain may last for minutes or hours and often occurs after fatty meals.
Surgery is recommended when gallstones cause pain, inflammation, or blockage of the bile duct. Symptomatic gallstones should be treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy to prevent complications.
It’s a minimally invasive “keyhole” procedure to remove the gallbladder through tiny incisions. Patients recover faster, have less pain, and return to normal activities within a few days.
Yes. It’s a standard and safe procedure performed routinely worldwide with a high success rate and minimal complications.
Most patients go home the same day, resume a normal diet within 24 hours, and return to daily routines in 2–3 days.
Absolutely. The gallbladder only stores bile; after removal, the liver continues to produce bile for digestion. There are no long-term dietary restrictions.
The cost varies based on the hospital and insurance coverage, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Dubai is generally affordable and offers excellent recovery outcomes.
Asymptomatic gall bladder stones usually do not require surgery if detected incidentally except when associated with some other disease like Diabetes, Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, etc. It is better to consult your surgeon for a definitive plan of treatment.
