Gallstone disease symptoms and treatment in women. Gallstone disease - all about the disease

Good day, dear readers!

In today's article, we will consider with you such a disease as cholelithiasis, as well as its signs, causes, diagnosis, treatment, diet and prevention. So…

What is gallstone disease?

Gallstone disease (GSD)- a disease that is characterized by the formation of stones (calculi) in the gallbladder or bile ducts.

Another name for the disease is cholelithiasis.

The main symptoms of gallstone disease are colic in the right hypochondrium, heaviness in the abdomen and yellowing. skin.

The main cause of cholelithiasis is a violation of cholesterol, bilirubin and some other metabolic processes in which bile pigments, "bad" cholesterol, salts, some types of protein and other substances settle in the gallbladder and its ducts. Over time, these substances begin to stick to each other and harden, forming the so-called stones.

One of the most popular consequences of finding stones in the bile organs is development.

The development of gallstone disease

Before understanding the process of formation of stones in the gallbladder and its ducts, we will try to plain language describe what these organs are and what function they perform in the life of the body.

The gallbladder is an organ, a kind of reservoir for bile, connected to the liver, pancreas and duodenum. In the gallbladder, bile particles are separated from water, i.e. in this organ there is a concentration of bile, which, when food, especially heavy food, is injected by the gallbladder into the initial section of the small intestine (duodenum 12), where this secret contributes to the digestion of food.

The bile ducts are the ducts through which the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and duodenum are connected.

Bile is a liquid secret produced by the liver, which enters the gallbladder through the hepatic duct, where, as we have already said, it is concentrated (separated from water). Bile is necessary for the normal digestion of food.

Now let's proceed to the consideration of the development of gallstone disease.

Certain factors, such as pregnancy, taking certain medications (especially those that affect cholesterol and bilirubin metabolism), obesity, fasting, eating junk food, metabolic disorders, diabetes and other pathologies lead to the fact that bile stagnation occurs in the gallbladder. The particles of which bile actually consists begin to “stick together”, forming small seals from themselves, which increase in size over the years. The bile ducts are much smaller than the bladder, and therefore, at a certain time, for example, when the body is shaken, the stone enters the duct and gets stuck in it, forming a blockage (obturation). Sometimes the stone hardly passes through the lumen of the bile duct, "scratching" its walls. But both cases cause severe acute pain in a person in the area where the stone moves or gets stuck. In rare cases, stones form in the bile ducts themselves.

Gallstones are seals ranging in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters, formed mainly from cholesterol deposits, calcium salts, various pigments (bilirubin is a bile pigment), proteins and other substances. Stones, or as they are also called in the scientific world - stones, can be various shapes, sizes, and are also based on various particles, with a predominance of one or another substance. The structure of stones can be crystalline, layered, fibrous or amorphous.

The next stage in the development of cholelithiasis depends on the localization of the blockage of the duct. If this occurs before the main bile duct, i.e. immediately after the gallbladder, bile from the liver enters the small intestine immediately, but the lack of its concentration leads to poor digestion of food. In addition, bile acids begin to circulate in the body without a controlling organ (bladder), which leads to the fact that an aggressive secret begins to harm the body, because. it is the bladder that regulates when bile is needed in the intestines and when it is not.

If the stone clogs the lumen of the common bile duct, then the bile, only already concentrated, from an overabundance returns back to the liver, and begins to affect it. This leads to toxic hepatitis.

If the stone clogs the lumen of the common duct near the duodenum itself, then the pancreas also enters the affected area.

With all these blockages, you need to understand that bile cannot enter the small intestine in sufficient quantities, or even enter the small intestine at all, while food cannot be digested normally. At the same time, if it is impossible to excrete from the body, bile begins to poison the body, sometimes infectious microorganisms appear in it, which contributes to the development of life-threatening consequences.

Of course, the above process is very superficial, but the overall picture of the state of affairs, I think, is now clear.

Treatment of gallstone disease is aimed at removing stones from the body without damaging the gallbladder and biliary tract. Usually treatment is conservative, but some situations can only be solved surgically.

Statistics of the disease

Gallstone disease from year to year is becoming more and more common disease of many people around the world. So, some authors point to an increase in the number of cases of cholelithiasis among residents of the CIS countries, every 10 years, almost twice.

The proportion of women who have gallstones compared to men is usually between 2:1 and 8:1. Another factor in which the number of patients with this pathology increases is age, the older the person, the higher the risk of manifestation of the disease.

If we talk about the total number of patients with cholelithiasis - 10% of the world's population, over the age of 70 years, the number of patients is up to 30%.

If we talk about the geography of the spread of the disease, then the number of cases is most common in developed countries - the USA, Europe, the CIS countries, while food is consumed mainly plant origin – Southeast Asia, India, Japan, cases of gallstone disease are minimal. Of course, in addition to food, movement also plays a big role, because. in underdeveloped countries people are for the most part constantly on the move.

Gallstone disease - ICD

ICD-10: K80.

The process of development of gallstone disease takes a long time - from the beginning of the formation of stones to the first signs of the disease, it can take from 5 to 10 years. This is due to the fact that the presence of stones in the gallbladder does not disturb a person in any way, and pain appears only when they enter the biliary tract and begin to injure

The first signs of gallstone disease

Yellowing of the skin, sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes oral cavity;
Sharp colic in the right hypochondrium (biliary colic), which appear when the stone moves along the biliary tract;
Feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, frequent belching;
Feeling of bitterness in the mouth.

The main symptoms of gallstone disease

biliary or hepatic colic (acute sharp pains in the right hypochondrium with recoil in right shoulder blade, forearm, arm, lower back, sternum and even neck), appearing mainly after eating spicy, spicy, fried and fatty foods, drinking alcoholic beverages, stress, heavy physical exertion or shaking the body;
Nausea, (sometimes with bile), after which the feeling of relief usually does not come;
Yellowness of the skin, sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes of the oral cavity ();

Additional symptoms:

Increased body temperature - up to;
increased sweating;
discoloration of feces;
Dull pain in the liver, which develops as a result of the expansion of the bile ducts of this organ, which leads to an increase in the liver in volume;
Seizures.

Symptoms may vary depending on the location of the blockage of the bile ducts by stones, as well as concomitant diseases.

Complications of gallstone disease

Complications of gallstone disease include:

(inflammation of the gallbladder);
Cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts);
Acute biliary pancreatitis;
Fistula formation;
Toxic hepatitis;
Cancer of the pancreas, liver and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of gallstone disease

Among the main reasons for the formation of stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts are:

Stagnation of bile in the gallbladder;
Ultra-high concentration of bile;
Violation of metabolic processes in the body, in particular bilirubin, cholesterol, lipids (fats, phospholipids, etc.) and other substances, which often provoke diseases such as fermentopathy, metabolic syndrome, and others;
Dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
, passing into ;
Hypofunction of liver cells;
Diseases of the pancreas and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
Hemolytic anemia;
Congenital anomalies in the structure of organs gastrointestinal tract;
The presence of scars, tumors, adhesions, kinks, inflammatory and other pathological changes and processes in the bile ducts;
The presence of an infection in the body, especially Escherichia coli.

Factors that increase the risk of developing cholelithiasis (cholelithiasis)

Improper nutrition - starvation, overeating or long periods of time between meals;
The use of harmful, spicy, fatty, fried and spicy foods;
Sedentary lifestyle;
Excess weight, ;
Taking certain medications: hormonal contraceptives, estrogens, fibrates, Okreotide, "" and others.
Pregnancy, especially multiple;
Gender - in women, the number of cases with gallstone disease is several times higher than in men;
Age (especially after 70 years) - the older the person, the greater the likelihood of stones;
Heredity.

Types of gallstone disease

JCB is classified as follows:

By localization of cholelithiasis

Cholecystolithiasis- stones form in the gallbladder;
Choledocholithiasis- Stones form in the bile ducts.

According to the composition of stones:

cholesterol stones- consist mainly of cholesterol deposits, and partly of salts, bilirubin (bile pigment), various minerals, protein and other substances. Painted in shades of yellow. Cholesterol stones are found in 80% of all cases of cholelithiasis.

Pigmented (bilirubin) stones- consist mainly of bilirubin, calcium salts and partially cholesterol deposits. Painted in dark brown or black. The formation of pigmented calculi is usually promoted by impaired liver function, infectious diseases of the bile ducts, and frequent hemolysis.

Lime stones. The main part of the stones consists of impurities of lime salts.

Mixed stones. The most popular type of stones, which consist of all of the above substances.

Stages of gallstone disease:

Stage 1 (initial, physico-chemical or pre-stone stage, primary stones). Characterized structural changes composition of bile, as well as the absence clinical manifestations(symptoms) of the disease. Violations can only be detected using biochemical analysis bile.

Stage 2 (formation of stones, latent stone-carrying). It is characterized by the absence of clinical manifestations, only occasionally some discomfort in the abdomen can be felt. The presence of stones can be detected using instrumental diagnostics(ultrasound, X-ray).

Stage 3 (secondary stones). It is characterized by the presence of symptoms of cholelithiasis, may be accompanied by the development of cholecystitis.

4 stage. It is characterized by a number of complications caused by cholelithiasis.

Diagnosis of gallstone disease

Diagnosis of gallstone disease includes following methods examinations:

Anamnesis;
abdominal cavity;
Oral cholecystography;
Retrograde cholangiopancreatography;
Biochemical analysis of bile;
Scintiography of the biliary system.

Treatment of gallstone disease is aimed at removing stones from the body, as well as normalizing the functioning of all organs and their appendages involved in the production, passage and excretion of bile.

Treatment for gallstone disease usually includes the following methods:

1. Removal of gallstones and their removal from the body:
1.1. Medicinal method of removing stones;
1.2. Ultrasonic method;
1.3. laser method;
1.4. External shock wave lithotripsy (ESWLT);
1.5. Surgical method (operation);
1.6. Why you can't remove your gallbladder
2. Diet.

1. Removal of gallstones and their removal from the body

1.1 Medicinal method of stone removal

Removal of gallstones with the help of drugs involves the use of drugs that normalize the composition of bile and metabolism, which leads to the gradual splitting of stones. It is prescribed mainly in the presence of small stones, or after the ultrasonic method of their removal.

The disadvantage of this method of removing stones is the long-term use of drugs, which, firstly, are relatively expensive means, and their use should usually be made for at least 6 months. Secondly, through prolonged use of drugs, it is not uncommon for patients to develop additional unpleasant symptoms that can worsen an already difficult course of cholelithiasis.

Drugs intended for the splitting of stones and their removal from the body are based in most cases on bile acids.

Among the drugs for the treatment of GSD can be identified: ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursonan, Ursodex, Exhol), chenodeoxycholic acid (Chenosan, Henofalk, Henohol), herbal remedies(extract of immortelle sandy).

Additionally, drugs are prescribed that stimulate the contraction of the gallbladder, which helps to push the stones out of themselves and their further removal from the body.

Among the drugs that stimulate the gallbladder, we can distinguish: Zixorin, Lyobil, Holosas.

1.2 Ultrasonic stone removal

The ultrasonic method of removing gallstones is performed using a special ultrasonic medical equipment, which, with the help of wave action on the gallstone, crushes it into smaller particles.

The disadvantage of this method is the possibility of the formation of pointed fragments, which can damage their mucous membranes when leaving the gallbladder and bile ducts. To prevent such a result, after ultrasound treatment appoint medications, which we talked about above. The medicine splits sharp corners along with small stones and removes their remnants from the body without possible complications.

1.3 Laser stone removal method

The laser method for removing gallstones is performed using special laser medical equipment. The essence of the method lies in the implementation of a small puncture in the human body, through which a special laser is directed directly to the stone itself, which destroys the calculus into smaller particles.

The disadvantage of this method of stone removal is possible risk the appearance of burns on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, which in the future can provoke the development of an ulcer. In addition, as in the case of the ultrasound method, particles of destroyed stones can have sharp edges that can damage the bile ducts when they leave the body. Therefore, after the removal of calculi with a laser, medications are also prescribed.

1.4. External shock wave lithotripsy (ESWLT)

Removal of stones using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWLT) is performed using powerful electrical discharges caused by an electromagnetic generator. The equipment generates pulsed discharges of high and low density, alternating one after another, which, when exposed to the calculus, destroy its structures, after which the stone disintegrates.

The disadvantage of this method is a large number of possible complications, the main of which are biliary colic, the development of acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, hematoma of the liver and gallbladder.

1.5. Surgical method of stone removal (surgery)

Open cholecystectomy. It is the most popular and cheapest method of removing gallstones. Indications for an open operation are the presence of large stones in the gallbladder and its ducts, frequent severe pain and the development of complications of cholelithiasis.

The disadvantage of surgical direct removal of stones is injury (incision) of tissues over a large area - an incision of about 15-30 cm, removal of the gallbladder, the risk of complications - from internal bleeding and infection to death (from 1% to 30%, especially the percentage increases with septic shock and other serious complications of cholelithiasis).

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, unlike open cholecystectomy, involves a gentle method of stone removal, which is performed using a laparoscope. To do this, several small (up to 1 cm) incisions are made, through which, using a laparoscope (a thin tube with a video camera for observation and accuracy of surgical intervention), the gallbladder with stones is taken out of the body. The main advantage is minimal trauma to body tissues. However, the risk of serious complications still remains.

In both the first and second cases, there are contraindications for the surgical method of removing stones, therefore, only the attending physician decides whether to perform the operation or not, and only on the basis of a thorough diagnosis of the body.

1.6. Why you can't remove your gallbladder

As we said at the beginning of the article, the gallbladder plays one of the important roles in the digestive process. This organ accumulates bile, where it is concentrated, after which, when food enters the body, the gallbladder throws bile into the initial section of the small intestine ( duodenum where the food goes through the process of digestion.

If there is no gallbladder, the bile will be more liquid, less concentrated, circulating through all the organs that are part of the so-called "choleretic system" without a controlling organ. These processes ultimately lead to poor digestion of food, the development of a number (, esophagitis, and others). At the same time, patients whose gallbladder has been removed often feel heaviness in the abdomen, pain in the right hypochondrium, a feeling of bitterness in the oral cavity and a metallic taste of food.

But the saddest thing in this picture is that in case of non-compliance preventive measures, stones may reappear, but already in the bile ducts themselves (choledocholithiasis), tk. the composition of bile, if you do not change your lifestyle, will not change.

Thus, it can be noted that the treatment of gallstone disease by removing the gallbladder along with stones is carried out only at least when conservative methods treatment did not lead to the desired result.

A diet for gallstone disease is usually prescribed after the removal of gallstones. This is due to the fact that even without the presence of a gallbladder, calculi can form again, but already in the biliary tract. The diet is aimed at preventing re-development ZhKB.

After removing the stones, diet No. 5, developed by M.I. Pevzner. Its basis is eating food with a minimum amount of fat and eating in small portions (4-5 times a day).

What can you eat with gallstone disease: low-fat meats and fish, cereals (rice, oatmeal, buckwheat) low-fat dairy products (milk, sour cream, kefir, cottage cheese), eggs (1 per day), bread (preferably yesterday or the day before yesterday), olive oil, any vegetables and fruits (all , except for sour ones), tea, weak coffee with milk, compotes, juices.

What not to eat with gallstone disease: fatty, spicy, spicy, fried and smoked foods, sausages, canned food, fatty meats and fish (pork, domestic duck, catfish, crucian carp, carp, bream), lard, animal fats, pickled vegetables, spinach, legumes, alcohol, strong coffee, soda, grape juice, muffins, chocolate.

Important! Before using folk remedies for the treatment of gallstone disease, be sure to consult your doctor!

You also need to understand that the following remedies are aimed at removing stones, so their movement through the bile ducts to exit the body may be accompanied by colic, bouts of nausea and pain.

Birch. 2 tbsp. spoons of birch leaves, collected and dried in the spring, pour a glass of boiling water and put on a slow fire. It is necessary to boil the product until its volume is halved. After that, the product must be cooled, filtered and taken throughout the day for 3 sets, half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 3 months.

Radish with honey. Squeeze out the juice from the radish, mix it with, in a ratio of 1: 1 and take 1 time per day, starting with 1/3 cup, and over time, the dose should be increased to 1 cup per day.

Rowan red. To remove stones from the gallbladder and its ducts, you can eat 2 glasses daily fresh fruit wild red rowan. To improve the taste properties, berries can be consumed mixed with honey, granulated sugar or bread. The course of treatment is 6 weeks.

Olive oil. Every day, 30 minutes before meals, you need to take olive oil. In the first days - ½ teaspoon, after 2 days - 1 teaspoon, then 2 teaspoons, etc., increasing the dosage to ½ cup. The course of treatment is 1 month.

Dill. 2 tbsp. Spoons of dill seeds pour into a thermos and fill them with 500 ml of boiling water. Let the remedy brew for about 5 hours, strain and drink the prepared infusion 1 cup, 2 times a day, for 30 days.

Echinacea and currant. Mix 2 tbsp. spoons of echinacea leaves and blackcurrant, after which 4 tbsp. spoons of the mixture pour 1 liter of boiling water and set aside the means for infusion, for 2 hours. After that, strain the infusion and add ordinary water to it to get 1 liter of the product. The resulting medicine should be taken 50 ml, 4 times a day, for 6 months.

Prevention of gallstone disease

Prevention of gallstone disease includes the following recommendations:

Try to eat mostly natural food (of plant origin), which is enriched and;
Avoid or minimize the consumption of unhealthy and unhealthy foods;
Move more, do morning exercises;
Do not leave to chance any, especially the gastrointestinal tract, so that they do not become chronic;
Do not allow the presence of extra pounds of body weight, avoid;
Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages;
Try not to take medications without consulting your doctor;
Observe;
Follow the work/rest/healthy sleep schedule;
Avoid .

Which doctor should I contact for gallstone disease?

Video about gallstone disease

Gallstone disease ranks third on the planet in terms of prevalence among other pathologies. internal organs. As part of the treatment of the disease, surgery is widely used, so many patients want to know if it is possible to treat cholelithiasis without surgery, what diet is required for this disease.

Features of drug treatment

At uncomplicated cholelithiasis widely prescribed drugs based on bile acids. After taking active substances contribute to a decrease in the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, the partial dissolution of cholesterol, which is contained in calculi.

Preparations of chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acid are also widely used for the treatment of cholelithiasis in children.

To achieve recovery, it is necessary to strictly follow the prescribed regimen, follow all the recommendations of the doctor. The use of chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids not only effectively dissolves small stones, but also prevents their occurrence in the following cases:

in patients who are overweight;
with anomalies in the structure of the biliary tract;
after the course diet food with a reduced calorie content;
after surgical treatment pathologies of the stomach.

Refuse to use drug treatment recommended in these situations:

the patient does not have a functioning gallbladder;
the presence of pigment or carbonate calculi;
during pregnancy or lactation;
if the stones occupy more than 50% of the volume of the organ;
in the presence of malignant neoplasms in the gallbladder.

The main indication for the use of drugs to dissolve stones is stones up to 2 cm in diameter.

Drug litholysis is effective at stage 2 of the disease, when the stones are formed, but there are no symptoms of the disease. The duration of therapy is 6-9 months. But even if the stones are completely dissolved in 50% of cases, the disease recurs and requires repeated treatment.

When is shock wave lithotripsy indicated?

Conservative therapy involves the use lithotripsy. The procedure involves the impact on the calculi located in the gallbladder with special shock waves, which contribute to the grinding of stones. up to 0.3 cm in diameter. During manipulation, the patient does not experience pain however, the removal of crushed fragments of stones can lead to intense pain.

Lithotripsy is indicated only for patients who have preserved normal contractility of the organ, the procedure is contraindicated in cholecystitis.

This method does not always allow crushing stones into fragments of the required size so that the fragments leave the gallbladder on their own.

Therefore, it is recommended to combine shock wave lithotripsy with litholysis using medications. Acute fragments of stones can provoke the development of pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, exacerbation of cholecystitis.

How is contact dissolution carried out?

In some cases, during the treatment of chronic calculous cholecystitis (CLC), not oral medication is indicated, but the administration of drugs directly into the gallbladder under constant ultrasound control. This method therapy occupies an intermediate position between surgical intervention and conservative treatment.

During the procedure, a catheter is installed for the patient, which allows you to quickly remove bile, replacing it with a special acid solution. To dissolve stones 7 to 15 sessions required. After therapy, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations and follow a diet. If the patient does not eliminate the main causes of the formation of stones, then after a while the symptoms of gallstone disease will reappear.

Features of diet therapy

To effectively cure chronic calculous cholecystitis, you will need to follow a special therapeutic diet. Proper nutrition involves eating small meals every 3-3.5 hours. This principle is aimed at preventing congestion in the gallbladder and the formation of new stones. Also, dietary nutrition can reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease in order to carry out conservative treatment.

A balanced diet allows you to normalize the composition of bile.

Gastroenterologists It is recommended to eat warm food, because hot or cold dishes can provoke the development of pain syndrome. Food must be chewed thoroughly, so dishes are recommended to be thoroughly chopped or rubbed. The last meal should be 2 hours before bedtime. This will help prevent pain. It is necessary to maintain a water-salt balance in order to normalize the composition of bile. Therefore, you should drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily. Food should be steamed, baked in the oven or boiled.

Organization of the transition to proper nutrition

To painlessly switch to diet food, we recommend:

identify unwanted foods, the use of which is limited or completely excluded;
determine permitted products;
make an indicative menu for the day.

Dietary nutrition involves the exclusion from the diet of the following products:

carbonated and alcoholic drinks;
foods rich in cholesterol;
spicy, fried, smoked, fatty and salty dishes;
mustard, hot spices, black pepper, horseradish, vinegar;
pancakes, pancakes;
meat broths;
wheat bread, muffin;
sweet pastries;
fatty meats;
onion and garlic;
raw vegetables and sweet fruits;
ice cream;
chocolate and other cocoa-based products;
millet and barley groats, barley, legumes;
salo.

vegetarian soups;
various cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina, rice), boiled in water;
vegetable oils;
pasta;
chicken breast, rabbit meat, lean beef;
dried black bread and crackers;
marshmallow, jelly and marmalade;
lean fish and seafood;
dairy products (cottage cheese 5%, cheese, kefir);
eggs and butter should be limited (use no more than 2 times a week);
raw, boiled or baked vegetables;
fruits and dried fruits.

Dish	Allowed	Forbidden
Fats	Vegetable oils, butter	Salo, margarine, lard
Soups	On vegetable broth with the addition of cereals, noodles	On meat and fish broth, borscht
Fish and meat	Lean beef, rabbit, cod, pike perch, navaga	Fatty varieties: pork, canned meat, catfish, sturgeon
Milk products	Home skim cheese, kefir, low-fat sour cream	Cream, full-fat milk and cheeses
Eggs	It is possible to prepare a protein omelet, soft-boiled eggs	Raw and hard-boiled, fried eggs
Greens and vegetables	Fresh, boiled	Pickled or pickled vegetables

It is recommended to stop drinking coffee or tea - it is better to replace them with alkaline mineral water, juices diluted with water, rosehip broth. If the patient is not ready to give up the usual drinks, then they should be drunk with cream.

With the development of an acute pain syndrome, it is required to refuse any products for 2 days - drink water or rosehip broth in order to normalize the functionality of the gallbladder.

indicative menu

Compose daily ration recommended together with a doctor who will help you create a balanced menu enriched with vitamins. It is important to remember that the basic principle of dietary nutrition is the absence of hunger in the patient during the day. Therefore, you need to adhere to the rules of fractional nutrition.

Approximate daily diet:

Breakfast. Any permitted porridge boiled in water, weak tea, to which milk or cream is added.
Lunch. Fresh fruits: bananas, apples, pears.
Dinner. Milk soup, stewed vegetables with boiled lean meat, rosehip compote.
afternoon tea. Cottage cheese pudding, weak tea with bread.
Dinner. Mashed potatoes, lean fish, steamed, dried fruit compote.
Second dinner: 300 ml of kefir.

Using Alternative Medicine Recipes

Healers advise using such folk recipes for patients in whom stones were found during the diagnosis:

Therapy with the listed folk remedies should be carried out on for 6-7 months. It allows you to improve the general well-being of the patient, stop the progression of the pathology. However, before treatment with herbs, you should consult a doctor to avoid the development of complications.

Modern medicine offers effective methods conservative treatment of GSD. However, their effectiveness will be determined by how closely the patient follows the doctor's recommendations and diet.

To understand what diet is necessary for non-surgical treatment of cholelithiasis, it is important to know the features and causes of the disease.

What is gallstone disease

As a result of the failure of metabolic processes in the body, the formation of stones (calculi) occurs, which can be located in the gallbladder or in its ducts.

The provoking factors are:

Stagnation of bile, which occurs due to decreased motility and weak contraction of the gallbladder,
The composition of bile, which changes as a result of inflammatory diseases and the use of foods rich in cholesterol.

Stones range in size and shape from small crystals to calculi over two centimeters.

Cholelithiasis - diet

The composition of the stones are divided into:

Cholesterol - formed when an excess of cholesterol appears in bile, have yellow and small size. Characteristic for 90% of people with cholelithiasis.
Bilirubin - formed against the background of liver diseases or the destruction of blood cells, have a dark brown color. Can be found in the gallbladder and bile ducts, occur in 5% of patients.
Calcium - arise as a result of the action of bacteria that destroy protein, amino acids. A precipitate is formed, consisting of calcium salts. stones Brown color, are more often located in the biliary tract, occur in 3% of patients.
Mixed.

The appointment of treatment with or without surgery will depend on the severity of the disease, the size of the stones and their number in the patient.

Lead to the development of gallstone disease:

inaccuracies in nutrition (lack of diet), non-compliance with the diet, overeating, starvation, the predominance of refined and saturated fat foods in the diet, overuse alcoholic drinks;
lack of physical activity, sedentary work;
congenital disorders of the structure of internal organs, as well as heredity;
diseases leading to hormonal failure (diabetes mellitus, diseases thyroid gland), pregnancy;
inflammatory diseases of the internal organs involved in the formation and excretion of bile.

How does cholelithiasis manifest?

During the precipitation of crystals and the initial formation of calculi, cholelithiasis does not manifest itself in any way.

Manifestation of gallstone disease

The first symptoms appear when the formed stones begin to irritate the gallbladder from the inside and prevent the outflow of its contents:

sudden sharp pain with colic, or It's a dull pain under the ribs, on the right side, which may radiate to the back and shoulder blade, and passing for a short time;
feeling of nausea, vomiting (with colic), feeling of bitterness, heartburn;
flatulence, diarrhea;
slight rise in temperature

Important to remember! In the absence of treatment, with errors in nutrition (diet), as well as without necessary operation cholelithiasis leads to serious problems with health, which may end lethal outcome. For example, intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, rupture of the bile duct, rupture of the walls of the bladder itself, bleeding, cancer.

How to treat gallstone disease without surgery

Surgical intervention in cholelithiasis it is indicated with a large accumulation of calculi, or with single stones larger than 2 cm. In this situation, the gallbladder is removed completely, which contributes to recovery in 95% of patients.

In other cases, treatment without surgery is possible:

Hardware treatment. With a small number of calculi smaller than 2 cm, it is possible to use ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves. Using appropriate equipment, a shock wave is directed to the stones, which deforms and causes their destruction. The resulting small fragments are excreted in the bile. For the best effect, bile acid preparations are prescribed in parallel. The lithotripsy procedure is painless.
Medical treatment. In the presence of cholesterol stones less than 2 cm in size, their dissolution is possible when drugs are taken orally. These include drugs containing ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. The course of treatment is a year or more. Tablets are taken in a daily dose of 15 mg / kg in 2-3 doses, always according to the doctor's prescription, as they have a number of contraindications.
Not medical treatment.

As an additional measure apply treatment with mineral water. It is possible to carry it out at home or in resorts, but as directed by a doctor. Water of low mineralization promotes the formation of bile, improves its composition, lowers cholesterol levels.

Water of medium mineralization has choleretic action, which positively affects blood circulation and the functioning of liver cells. The course of treatment is about three weeks.

in the presence of such a disease as cholelithiasis, treatment without surgery is possible, but in this case, the diet is a prerequisite for recovery

Need to take one glass of mineral water three times a day, in a warm form (42-45 ° C). With a stomach with low acidity, water is taken 10-20 minutes before meals, with hyperacidity take 1.5 hours before meals, with normal acidity take an hour before meals. Several courses of treatment with mineral-rich water can be carried out per year.

In any case, in the presence of such a disease as cholelithiasis, treatment without surgery is possible, but in this case, diet is a prerequisite for recovery. Mostly appoint table number 5, the doctor can adjust the use of certain products depending on the severity of the disease.

Cholelithiasis. Treatment without surgery with special diets

In the treatment of gallstone disease with a diet need to eat often and in small portions. This technique causes a constant outflow of bile, its stagnation and the formation of new stones are excluded, the symptoms of the disease decrease, and it makes it possible to carry out treatment without surgery.

A diet balanced in fats, proteins and carbohydrates allows you to normalize the composition of bile. An attack of severe pain can cause the intake of too hot or, conversely, too cold food, so it is necessary to take it in a warm, comfortable form for the stomach.

Be sure to chew thoroughly. Avoid late dinner, lack of food in the stomach before bedtime avoids pain. Organize a weekly fasting day. The amount of fluid you drink should be sufficient, about eight glasses a day.

The diet involves the exclusion of the following foods from the diet:

What foods do not harm with cholelithiasis

The cooking methods are boiling, baking, sometimes stewing. The broth for soups should be based on vegetables. Excessive salt intake is unacceptable. Products must be carefully crushed or rubbed.

The diet should contain a variety of cereals

meat (lean chicken, rabbit, lean beef, etc.),
non-greasy River fish, squid,
various cereals (buckwheat, barley, oatmeal, rice, millet),
black bread (preferably dried), crackers,
dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, kefir), butter is limited,
egg, several times a week,
various vegetable oils
vegetables, fruits, dried fruits.
fruit compotes.

Menu for the day

Note! With the appearance of severe pain, when there is an exacerbation of cholelithiasis, it is recommended to drink water and other liquids for several days. Refusal of food allows the gallbladder to restore its work and rest without load.

The components of the dishes on the menu can be changed, subject to the basic principles of the diet

It is necessary to contact a doctor who will prescribe treatment and exclude the operation. After three days, you can switch to a special sparing diet.

Menu for the day:

Breakfast. Porridge cooked in milk (semolina, oatmeal or buckwheat), with the addition of olive oil, weak tea (you can use milk).
Lunch. Dishes made from cottage cheese (for example, pudding), non-acid fruits.
Dinner. The first is any soup in vegetable broth (pickle, borscht) or milk soup. The second is lean meat (beef stroganoff, meatballs), a vegetable side dish (mashed potatoes, stewed zucchini). The third is dried fruit compote or fruit jelly.
afternoon tea. Weak tea, lean cookies (biscuits), crackers, bread.
Dinner. Steamed fish, vegetable cutlets (carrot, carrot-apple), tea.
Second dinner. A glass of yogurt, it is advisable to drink it two hours before bedtime.

Such food should be preserved long time, up to two years. The components of the dishes on the menu can be changed, subject to the basic principles of the diet.

Alternative methods of treatment for gallstone disease

The use of folk remedies is an auxiliary method that cannot completely replace therapeutic methods of treatment. The course of taking tinctures and decoctions, to achieve the desired effect, should be long.

Also, the ability to treat gallstone disease without surgery gives a diet and compliance with all doctor's recommendations. Many herbs have a number of contraindications, their use must be approved by a doctor.

Dandelion roots are an excellent choleretic agent

For the preparation of infusions and decoctions, herbs and fees are used that have already proven themselves and give a positive result.

As a diuretic apply a collection of equal parts of chaga and dandelion roots. The components are crushed, then pour two teaspoons of raw materials with boiling water (2 cups). Waiting time is three hours. You need to take it during an exacerbation, half an hour before meals, a day up to four times a tablespoon.

In the chronic course of the disease it is useful to take chaga oil. It is obtained using olive oil. Begin to take half a teaspoon once a day, eventually increasing a single dose to 4 tablespoons. The course of admission is alternated with breaks.

An effective remedy is decoction made from dill seeds. To prepare it, take two tablespoons of raw materials, and pour them with two glasses of water. It is necessary to bring the broth to a boil in a water bath and hold for 15 minutes. After cooling, strain through cheesecloth, apply warm. The course of admission four times a day, for three weeks, half a cup.

This disease can be asymptomatic for a long time.

Sunflower roots are also widely used as a folk remedy.. For a full course of treatment, seven glasses of crushed roots are needed.

First, one glass of prepared roots is boiled for five minutes in three liters of water. The broth is cooled, it should be stored in a cool place, used one liter per day.

Three days later, the roots remaining from the decoction are again boiled in three liters of water, but for ten minutes already. Then after three days they are boiled for twenty minutes. After nine days of intake, sunflower roots are changed to new raw materials. Thus, the treatment takes about two months.

Important to remember! This disease can be asymptomatic for a long time. May appear unexpectedly acute pain, or detected during examination of other organs.

In people diagnosed with gallstone disease, treatment without surgery is allowed. Diet, folk remedies and moderate physical activity can cope with the disease, provided it is detected in the early stages.

What foods are prohibited for cholelithiasis, what is possible and what is not allowed, the associate professor tells:

Who is at risk and what gallstone disease can lead to:

Is it possible to get rid of gallstone disease without surgery and what needs to be done for this:

An attack of gallstone disease is a condition caused by a violation of the outflow of bile due to blockage of the gallbladder and / or bile ducts with stones. found in every 5th woman and every 10th man. Up to 60% of people with gallstones do not experience unpleasant symptoms, but the likelihood of an attack of the disease in them increases annually by 2-3%. What is the danger of exacerbation of cholelithiasis and what are the principles of first aid? To answer this, you should first familiarize yourself with the causes of the pathology.

Bile is a mixture of bile acids, pigments, phospholipids and cholesterol. Action negative factor provokes the precipitation of a solid precipitate, gradually turning into calculi (stones). This can be observed against the background of metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases of the biliary system. In the first case, the concentration of bile acids and cholesterol in bile increases. In the second - change it physical and chemical properties. Depending on the predominant component, cholesterol and pigment calculi are distinguished. In rare cases, there are calcifications (stones with large amounts of calcium).

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing GSD. Namely:

Errors in the diet. The predominance of animal fats, long-term total parenteral nutrition (bypassing the gastrointestinal tract). The likelihood of developing cholelithiasis increases by 30% with fasting, rapid weight loss.
Diseases of the biliary system. The most common is chronic cholecystitis. With cirrhosis of the liver, the risk of calculus formation increases 10 times.
Endocrine pathologies. Stone formation is not uncommon in individuals with uncorrected hypothyroidism. Patients with diabetes suffer from gallstone disease 3 times more often than those who do not have this endocrine disease.
Obesity, high triglycerides. 2 out of 10 people with metabolic syndrome(a complex of changes associated with metabolic disorders), symptoms of an attack of cholelithiasis develop over time.
Taking a drug that affects the composition of bile, motility of the biliary tract. For example, ceftriaxone.
Female gender, age. Women suffer from gallstone disease 2 times more often than men. With age, the difference in incidence is smoothed out. The main category of patients is people over 40 years old.
Pregnancy. Calculi are formed in 5-12% of cases of gestation, but often after childbirth they spontaneously disappear. There is a greater risk in 2 and subsequent pregnancies.
Estrogen intake regardless of gender. With substitution hormone therapy in postmenopausal women, the risk of cholelithiasis increases by 3.7 times.
Burdened heredity. People who have blood relatives with cholelithiasis are 4-5 times more likely to develop the disease.

The pathogenesis of an attack of gallstone disease

An attack of the gallbladder is caused by blockage of its neck / or excretory ducts by migrating stones. But pathogenesis is not limited to this. Symptoms may be based on several processes at once. Types of manifestations of cholelithiasis and mechanisms of their occurrence:

(biliary pain). The most frequent manifestation of the disease (75% of cases). It is based on the wedging of a stone into the neck of the gallbladder, the entry of a calculus into the bile ducts (cystic and common), followed by their reflex spasm. Because of this, bile cannot enter the duodenum, leading to an increase in pressure in the biliary tract.
. Occurs in 10% of episodes of clinically severe cholelithiasis. Usually occurs as a complication of blockage of the neck of the gallbladder, cystic duct. Provocateurs are bacterial infection(50-85% of cases) and lysolecithin, a bile derivative, chemically aggressive for previously damaged areas of the biliary tract.
Cholangitis. Inflammation of the bile ducts. The triggering factors are the same as above.
Acute biliary pancreatitis. Inflammation of the pancreas. Associated with the reflux of bile into the pancreatic duct, lymphogenous spread of infection from the biliary system.

Reasons for an attack

Increased production of bile, spasm of the gallbladder and excretory ducts can cause the migration of stones. Provoking factors:

sudden movements, shaking, riding;

Binge eating;

Eating foods that stimulate the secretion of bile (especially fatty and spicy foods);

Stress (due to spasm of smooth muscles).

Symptoms

Most often, an attack of calculous cholecystitis begins with biliary colic. If it is associated with food intake, it occurs 1-1.5 hours after eating. Often colic disturbs at night, a few hours after falling asleep. Symptoms of an attack of gallstone disease:

Pain syndrome. Sharp, pronounced. It is localized in the right hypochondrium with spread to the epigastrium (the area of the projection of the stomach). It can give under the right shovel, between the shoulder blades, thoracic spine, neck, right shoulder. The pain grows in waves, then becomes constant, arching. Lasts from several minutes to several hours. May lead to pain.
dyspeptic syndrome. Possible nausea, vomiting. Emptying the stomach does not bring relief. Due to the reflex slowdown of intestinal peristalsis, the abdomen is slightly swollen.
Vegetative disorders. Sweating, increased or slowed heart rate, changes in blood pressure (more often a decrease).
Hyperthermia. Body temperature usually does not exceed 38°C.

The typical biliary colic is so severe that the patient tosses about in bed. He is constantly looking for a comfortable position in which discomfort decrease. Breath becomes shallow as every movement chest intensifies the pain. Colic usually disappears on its own (if a small stone could pass into the duodenum 12) or after taking antispasmodics.

If colic does not disappear after 6 hours, the development of acute cholecystitis is first suspected. The pain is similar to biliary. Inflammation of the gallbladder, the addition of cholangitis, pancreatitis may be indirectly indicated by hyperthermia from 38 ° C. The condition may worsen to high fever(from 39°C) with chills. At later stages, jaundice joins.

Important! Progressive deterioration of the condition, a hard "board-like" abdomen may indicate a rupture of the gallbladder with the development of peritonitis - inflammation of the peritoneum sheets. This condition is life threatening and requires immediate surgical intervention.

Diagnostics

The primary determination of the cause of colic is based on the study of complaints, examination data. AT emergency situations medical specialist this is enough to urgently relieve an attack of gallstone disease and prevent pain shock. Laboratory and instrumental methods research. The main ones are:

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. It is possible to visualize stones, change the contractility of the gallbladder.
Clinical blood test. Often there are signs of bacterial inflammation: acceleration of ESR, an increase in the number of leukocytes.
Blood chemistry. Signs of stasis of bile. The level of bilirubin increases due to the direct fraction, the activity of alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST increases.

If necessary, perform ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). This is an x-ray visualization of the bile and pancreatic ducts using endoscopic injection of contrast agents. More often, such a study is combined with medical manipulations, for example, dissection of the mouth of the papilla of the duodenum 12. ERCP is performed without exacerbation of gallstone disease, so an attack of the disease is a direct contraindication to the procedure.

The abdominal form of myocardial infarction can mimic an attack of biliary colic. To avoid a diagnostic error, it is better to immediately contact a medical specialist.

What should be done during an attack of gallstone disease?

Typical biliary colic (not to be confused with mild dyspepsia due to nutritional errors) - absolute reading to call an ambulance medical care. The condition may require emergency surgery. The main task is to prevent complications before the arrival of a team of specialists. First aid for an attack of gallbladder colic:

Provide bed rest;
Stop eating;
Give an antispasmodic, avoiding excess dosage (mebeverine, drotaverine, papaverine);
Cover with a blanket for chills;
Constantly monitor the patient, as he may pass out from the pain.

Attention! Despite the recommendations in some sources, you cannot warm up the right hypochondrium on your own and take hot bath. Under an attack of colic, other diseases can be masked, in which such procedures are dangerous. With cholelithiasis, it is forbidden to give choleretic drugs.

How can I relieve an attack of gallstone disease myself? If this is typical biliary pain, then it is better to follow the above measures and wait for the doctor.

Prevention

Measures to prevent biliary colic are based on the correction of nutrition and lifestyle. Namely:

Dieting. Frequent fractional meals 4-5 times a day in small portions. Exclusion of fatty, fried, spicy foods, marinades. Foods that stimulate the production of bile fall under the restriction: garlic, coffee, egg yolks, carbonated drinks. The diet should be strictly observed after an attack of gallstone disease. Do not eat for 12 hours after colic.
Balanced physical activity. Avoid hypodynamia, heavy lifting.
Eliminate sources of stress. This also includes compliance with the regime of work and rest.

Conclusion

Colic in cholelithiasis is a condition that requires the intervention of a specialist. Even if it was possible to stop it on its own, it can recur at any time and lead to life threatening complications. If gallstones are an asymptomatic ultrasound finding, a planned visit to a gastroenterologist and surgeon is mandatory. Otherwise, sooner or later they will cause an attack of gallstone disease.

Or cholelithiasis- a disease of the gallbladder, accompanied by the formation of stones in its cavity or bile ducts. Basically, it is asymptomatic or accompanied by a variety of clinical manifestations.

Gallstone disease is common throughout the world, occupies a leading place among other pathologies of the digestive system in humans. There is a clear distinction between the disease by sex - women are ill 2 times more than men. Moreover, mothers of many children often suffer from stones in the gallbladder or its ducts, which occur due to insufficient emptying of bile in the last trimesters of pregnancy. In 1/3 of multiparous women, characteristic symptoms of the disease are revealed.

Classification of gallstone disease

Depending on the location, size and localization of gallstones, the activity of inflammation and the condition of the biliary tract, there are three stages of gallstone disease:

1) Initial (physio-chemical) - pre-stone stage, characterized by changes in the composition of bile.
2) Asymptomatic stone carrying - the presence of stones in the gallbladder that do not manifest any complications or symptoms.
3) Clinical manifestations of the disease, indicating the development of a chronic or acute form of inflammation of the gallbladder.

In some cases, they include the fourth stage of cholelithiasis, accompanied by the development of concomitant complications.

Reasons for the formation of stones

The pathogenesis of the formation of stones in the gallbladder is still not exactly known, however, it has been established that the key factor is the violation of the mechanism of enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and cholesterol. Its violation occurs for a number of reasons:

1. A disorder in the process of bile secretion, leading to its supersaturation with cholesterol, thickening and the formation of crystals.
2. Lack of bile outflow due to obstruction biliary tract, valves: Oddi, pancreatic and bile ducts, small intestine, which is combined with a violation of intestinal motility.
3. Changes in the intestinal microflora associated with excessive reproduction and accumulation of bacteria in the ileum, followed by an increase in pressure in the duodenum.
4. Disorder of the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients, creating the prerequisites for the development of biliary pancreatitis.

An important factor influencing the course of gallstone disease is hereditary predisposition, elderly age, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, medication, obesity, pregnancy, inflammatory diseases bowels, physical inactivity, rapid weight loss, chronic constipation, etc.

Types of gallstones

According to their composition, which directly depends on what part of the bile precipitates and crystallizes, there are several types of stones:

homogeneous- pigment (bilirubin), cholesterol and lime;
mixed- the nucleus is made up of organic compound, and shells from layers of bile pigment, calcium and cholesterol salts (up to 80% of all stones);
complex- the core contains cholesterol, shells of calcium, bilirubin, cholesterol (10% of cases).

Most often, stones form in the gallbladder, less often - in the hepatic and bile ducts, intrahepatic bile ducts.

Complications of gallstone disease

Incorrectly chosen tactics for the treatment of gallstone disease often leads to the occurrence of diseases such as:

Acute cholecystitis;
mechanical jaundice;
choledocholithiasis;
cholangitis;
chronic pancreatitis.

The performed cholecystectomy, an operation to remove the gallbladder, can also be complicated by postcholecystectomy syndrome, which worsens the patient's quality of life. Among the clinical manifestations of the syndrome, abdominal pain, bitterness in the mouth, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and fever are noted. Sometimes patients have yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes.

Symptoms of gallstone disease

In most patients, gallstone disease occurs without any symptoms. Only 1-2% have the following symptoms: pressing, stabbing or cramping pains radiating to the right shoulder or shoulder blade, in which a person cannot find a comfortable position to reduce them. A pain attack lasts on average 15-30 minutes, sometimes 3-4 hours, after which patients have discomfort in the abdomen. In some patients, attacks of pain are accompanied by nausea, even less often - vomiting of green or yellow bile.

Diagnosis of gallstone disease

When diagnosing a disease, instrumental methods and a physical examination of the patient are used, including:

1. Medical examination of the patient in order to identify characteristic symptoms diseases of the gallbladder, tension and soreness of the skin in the abdomen, the presence of yellow spots on the skin, general icterus of the skin and sclera of the eyes. At the same time, the history of the disease is studied
2. Biochemical blood test to determine high content cholesterol, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine or aspartic aminotransferases in her serum.
3. Carrying out a general blood test to determine the number of ESR and leukocytes, indicating the presence of non-specific inflammation in the body.
4. The use of cholecystography to detect an increase in the gallbladder and the presence of lime deposits on its walls.
5. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity to detect stones in the gallbladder, obtain additional information on the condition of the bile ducts, liver, pancreas.
6. Performing a survey radiograph of the abdominal organs or cholangiography: endoscopic retrograde, magnetic resonance, percutaneous transhepatic or intraoperative, if there is a suspicion of the presence of stones in the bile ducts.

In case of negative ultrasound results, microscopic examination of bile collected during endoscopy is used. The detection of cholesterol crystals in it indicates the presence of stones in the gallbladder or its ducts. The presence of pigment granules is not such an important factor in the diagnosis of gallstone disease.

Treatment of gallstone disease

Therapeutic treatment of gallstone disease is mainly aimed at reducing inflammation, improving the outflow of bile, normalizing the functioning of the gallbladder and its ducts, and correcting hormonal background patient:

1. Diet, balanced by the amount of vegetable fats and proteins. At the same time, patients are not recommended to consume high-calorie spicy and spicy foods containing high amounts of cholesterol and refined carbohydrates. To prevent acidity, their menu includes dairy products, and flour products and cereal dishes limit. Compliance with the diet reduces the likelihood of gallbladder spasms that can cause the migration of sand and small stones. If the patient has an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, complete hunger and drinking water are prescribed, followed by fractional and frequent meals by the hour, excluding spicy, sour, smoked and fried foods.

2. Medical therapy . If the patient has contraindications for surgery or refuses surgery, drugs containing bile salts are prescribed. Tablets should be taken orally as prescribed by the doctor. The effectiveness of treatment is 80-100% if the stones are round, cholesterol in nature, no more than 10 mm in size and have a smooth surface. At the same time, such therapy is not recommended if the patient has large pigment stones with a diameter of more than 20 mm, as well as frequent and severe attacks of biliary pain.

By agreement with the patient, a single dose of ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursosan) is prescribed in a daily dose of up to 900 mg. Side effects are quite rare and account for only 5%. The medicine is taken until the stones are completely dissolved up to 12 months and continue to be used for 3 months to prevent relapse.

In case of cholelithiasis complication with attacks of cholecystitis and impaired intestinal microflora apply antibiotic therapy. Use drugs such as ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, imipenem in combination with antibacterial drugs: tetracycline, rifampicin, isoniazid. It is mandatory to use probiotics that stimulate the growth of intestinal microflora. To normalize digestion and absorption of nutrients, buffer antacids and enzyme preparations are prescribed.

Every ten years, the number of people suffering from gallstone disease doubles.
- 25% of women and 10% of men living in the northwestern regions of Russia have gallstones.
- 25% of women aged 40 suffer from gallstone disease.
- 50% of people over the age of 70 are diagnosed with gallstone disease.
- The most common gallstone disease is observed in children who have reached school age.

3. Surgical intervention(laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy) - indicated for symptoms of acute or chronic cholecystitis, stones in general bile duct and gallbladder, occupying more than 2/3 of its volume. Relative indications for the removal of the gallbladder along with stones are considered diseases such as: peritonitis, acute cholangitis, morbid obesity, jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, biliary fistulas, acute pancreatitis, pregnancy, acute cholecystitis with a disease duration of more than 48 hours.

In some countries, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is used to crush stones. Small stone fragments are dissolved with litholytic therapy, in which bile acids are given orally.

Prevention of gallstone disease

As studies show, healthy lifestyle of life is one of the main principles for the prevention of gallstone disease:

Systematic physical activity;
limiting alcohol and smoking;
correct and balanced diet, including proteins, vegetable fats, green tea, ripe and sweet fruits, greens, dried bread, boiled chicken, raw pureed vegetables.

It is necessary to eat regularly, at least 4-5 times a day, since more rare meals contribute to the stagnation of bile, its thickening and the formation of stones. Long breaks (over 4 hours) between traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner should be supplemented with tea, juice, compote or kefir. Fried foods, legumes, garlic, onions and radishes are completely excluded from the diet. It is recommended to prepare all dishes from stewed, baked or boiled products.

Alternative methods of treatment of gallstone disease

Traditional medicine offers various means for the treatment of gallstone disease. In particular, it is recommended to take freshly prepared juices of carrots, beets and lemons in combination with the use of kefir or cheese. Warm mineral water helps a lot, especially if there are no acute pain attacks, which is best taken within 2 months.

To prevent further exacerbation of the disease, rose hips are used to help dissolve gallstones. A warm decoction of its roots is consumed 3-4 times a day for a month. The treatment course with wild rose is repeated after 1-1.5 weeks.

Extremely diverse folk recipes that help with severe pain in the gallbladder, and combine honey and various herbs, such as lemon balm, buckthorn, immortelle, dogrose, celandine. Strained herbal decoction drink warm with 1 teaspoon of honey. Treatment of gallstone disease by folk methods should be carried out with the permission of the attending physician and, only as additional therapeutic assistance.