What are the consequences of not treating gallstones

If you suffer from gallstones, you need to take timely treatment measures, because if not treated, it may cause biliary colic, or gallbladder cancer, and various types of bile-related inflammation, so treatment must be carried out in a timely manner.

1. The result of not treating gallstones is biliary colic

Approximately 20% of patients with "asymptomatic" gallstones develop biliary colic each year. During the symptom-free intervals, the stones float around in the gallbladder, and the patient does not feel anything during these times. After a fatty meal or at night, gallstones are easily stuck in the neck of the gallbladder or in the cystic duct. Once the stones are stuck, the bile in the gallbladder cannot flow out, causing the pressure in the gallbladder to increase and the gallbladder to swell. In order to discharge its bile, the gallbladder has to strengthen its contraction. The rapid expansion and contraction of the gallbladder in a short period of time produces severe colic. This type of colic is often persistent and worsens in paroxysmal forms. In severe cases, shock or even life-threatening conditions may occur.

2. The result of not treating gallstones is gallbladder cancer

An expert in hepatobiliary surgery said that in the past, people were only familiar with gallstones and cholecystitis, but now bile duct cancer is also very common, and patients with gallbladder cancer often have gallstones, which proves that gallbladder cancer and gallstones are directly related. Data show that about 0.5% to 1% of gallbladder stones are complicated by gallbladder cancer. This situation often leads to misdiagnosis, and statistics show that the misdiagnosis rate can reach 79.5%. Gallbladder cancer is often discovered during gallstone surgery, usually in the late stages, with very poor treatment outcomes, and the vast majority of patients die within a year. Experts point out that if gallbladder cancer that has not metastasized can be diagnosed early and simple cholecystectomy is performed in time, the 5-year survival rate can reach 92%.

Experts point out that prevention should be the main focus for any cancer, with early detection and early treatment. For patients with gallstones larger than 3 cm in diameter, those over 50 years of age, especially women, preventive cholecystectomy should be considered.

3. The result of not treating gallstones: various types of biliary inflammation

It is probably well known that gallstones lead to cholecystitis. In addition, some small stones fall into the common bile duct and are discharged into the duodenum. Each time they fall into the common bile duct, they can damage the hepatopancreatic ampulla sphincter at the end of the common bile duct. Repeated occurrence of this can cause stenosis of the end of the common bile duct, leading to common bile duct stones and gallstones in the pancreas. Some large stones that impact and compress the gallbladder and its adjacent organs may form intrabiliary fistulas, such as cholecystoduodenal fistula, cholecystotransverse colon fistula, cholecystocommon bile duct fistula, etc.