We provides treatment for following gallbladder and bile duct conditions.
Gall stones
Gall stones is the most common surgical problem of gallbladder. Gall stones are usually small stones and cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, discomfort and indigestion. If untreated gall stones can cause infection in gall bladder needing emergency admission and complications like pancreatitis and jaundice. Diagnosis of gall stones can be easily made with a simple ultrasound scan. The treatment of choice is laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Gallbladder cancer
It is an uncommon but aggressive cancer. It can present with symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal pain and discomfort or jaundice. Gall stones, polyps and South east Asian origin are risk factors to develop gallbladder cancer. The diagnosis is based on ultrasound or a CT scan. The treatment depends upon staging of the cancer and usually involves combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
Bile duct stones
Bile duct stones usually are formed in gallbladder and then moved to bile duct. Common presentations are abdominal pain, jaundice and pancreatitis. Diagnosis can be made with ultrasound scan or MRCP. They can be treated with ERCP which is an endoscopic procedure in most of the cases occasionally needing surgery to have ductal clearance. One modern method of managing combined gall bladder and bile duct stones is with single stage laparoscopic or key hole surgery.
Bile duct stricture (Narrowing, block)
The most common cause of bile duct stricture is surgery in bile duct area usually a cholecystectomy but it can also develop due to other causes such as bile duct stones, cancer and pancreatitis. Basic test to diagnose a bile duct stricture is an ultrasound scan but most patients would need MRCP or ERCP. Bile duct stricture can be treated with ERCP but may require surgery in difficult cases.
Bile duct Cancer
Bile duct cancer usually presents with jaundice, weight loss and ill health. Diagnosis usually requires MRCP and ERCP with brush cytology. Treatment is surgery but type of surgery depends upon the location of the cancer in bile duct. In general cancer in higher part of bile duct requires resection and biliary reconstruction by using a part of intestine whereas lower cancer requires Whipple procedure.