**Gallstones** (Cholelithiasis) are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. While some gallstones remain asymptomatic, others can cause severe pain and serious complications, requiring medical attention. Dr. Neeraj Dhar, a leading **Gastroenterologist** in Faridabad, provides expert diagnosis and comprehensive management strategies for gallstones, including advanced endoscopic procedures for bile duct stones and coordinated care for surgical interventions.

Understanding Gallstones:

Gallstones form when substances in bile, such as cholesterol or bilirubin, become highly concentrated and crystallize. They can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Gallstones can cause problems if they block the bile ducts, leading to inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), bile duct infection (cholangitis), or pancreatitis.

Common Symptoms of Gallstones:

Many people with gallstones experience no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include:

• **Biliary Colic:** Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right abdomen, often radiating to the back or right shoulder. This pain can last for minutes to hours.
• Pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) if a gallstone blocks the common bile duct.
• Fever and chills, indicating infection.
• Dark urine and pale stools.

Dr. Neeraj Dhar's Approach to Gallbladder Stone Management:

As a highly skilled gastroenterologist, Dr. Neeraj Dhar offers a comprehensive approach to gallstone treatment, focusing on accurate diagnosis and appropriate interventions:

1. Precise Diagnosis:

• **Clinical Evaluation:** A thorough assessment of your symptoms and medical history.
• **Abdominal Ultrasound:** This is the most common and effective imaging test to visualize gallstones within the gallbladder.
• **MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography):** A non-invasive MRI scan specifically designed to visualize the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts, helping to detect stones that have migrated into the bile ducts.
• **Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):** For a more detailed view, especially for small stones in the bile ducts or gallbladder, or to assess for related pancreatic issues.
• **Blood Tests:** To check for signs of infection, inflammation, or liver/pancreatic involvement.

2. Treatment Options:

The treatment approach depends on whether the gallstones are causing symptoms and if they have moved into the bile ducts.

• **Watchful Waiting:** For asymptomatic gallstones, no immediate treatment may be needed. Dr. Dhar will advise on symptom monitoring and lifestyle modifications.
• **Medical Dissolution Therapy:** In very rare cases, certain medications can dissolve cholesterol gallstones, but this is a lengthy process and not effective for all types of stones or in all patients.
• **Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP):**

  This is where Dr. Neeraj Dhar's specialized expertise is crucial. If gallstones move from the gallbladder into the common bile duct (**choledocholithiasis**), they can cause blockages, jaundice, or pancreatitis. Dr. Dhar performs **ERCP** to:

  • Directly visualize and remove stones from the bile duct using specialized tools.
  • Perform a sphincterotomy (small incision) to widen the bile duct opening for easier stone passage or removal.
  • Place stents to ensure proper bile flow if there's significant swelling or a stricture.

  This minimally invasive procedure can often prevent the need for more extensive surgery to clear the bile ducts.

• **Surgical Treatment (Cholecystectomy):**

  For patients with symptomatic gallstones within the gallbladder itself, or recurrent complications, surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the most common and definitive treatment. This is typically performed laparoscopically (minimally invasive keyhole surgery) by a specialized GI surgeon.

  **Dr. Neeraj Dhar provides comprehensive gastrointestinal evaluation and pre-operative optimization** for patients considering cholecystectomy. He also offers **post-operative follow-up and management** of any related digestive issues, working collaboratively with the surgical team to ensure seamless patient care.

If you are experiencing symptoms related to gallstones, or if you have been diagnosed with them, consulting with a skilled gastroenterologist like Dr. Neeraj Dhar is vital. His expertise in advanced diagnostic and endoscopic techniques ensures you receive the most appropriate and effective treatment plan for your specific condition in Faridabad.