Published: 28 August 2026
Gallbladder stones, also called gallstones or cholelithiasis, are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Some people may have gallstones without knowing it, while others develop sudden abdominal pain when a stone blocks the normal flow of bile.
Recognising the symptoms early can help determine when simple monitoring is enough and when medical or surgical treatment may be necessary.
Gallstones that do not block the bile ducts may cause no symptoms at all. These are often called silent gallstones and usually do not require treatment.
When a gallstone blocks a bile duct, symptoms may include:
A gallbladder attack can occur when bile becomes trapped because of a blockage. Persistent or severe pain should be medically evaluated rather than repeatedly treated as ordinary indigestion.
Patients with persistent digestive or upper-abdominal symptoms can consult the Gastroenterology Department at Westin Hospitals.
Gallstone pain commonly occurs in the upper-right part of the abdomen, where the gallbladder is located beneath the liver.
The pain may begin suddenly and can become intense when a gallstone blocks a bile duct. Because upper-abdominal pain can have several causes, symptoms alone cannot confirm gallstones.
Gallstones can develop when substances within bile become unbalanced.
They may form when bile contains:
Risk can also be higher in people with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high triglycerides or certain other medical conditions. Rapid weight loss may also increase the likelihood of developing gallstones.
Doctors generally use a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests and imaging.
Ultrasound is commonly used to detect gallstones. Blood tests may also help identify signs of infection or inflammation involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas or liver.
Westin Hospitals provides diagnostic services that can support evaluation depending on the patient's condition. You can learn more about the hospital's diagnostic facilities.
No.
If gallstones are discovered but are not causing symptoms, treatment is often not required. However, symptomatic gallstones or repeated gallbladder attacks generally need medical evaluation.
Treatment depends on:
The usual treatment for symptomatic gallstones is surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as cholecystectomy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy removes the gallbladder through small incisions and is commonly used when surgery is appropriate.
Patients requiring surgical evaluation can learn more about Westin Hospitals' Gastrointestinal Surgery, Minimal Access Surgery & General Surgery services.
Nonsurgical treatments are used only in selected situations. Certain cholesterol stones may sometimes be treated with medicines, while ERCP may be used to remove stones lodged in the common bile duct.
The appropriate treatment should be decided after medical evaluation rather than attempting to dissolve gallstones with home remedies.
Not every gallstone causes complications. However, a blocked bile duct can sometimes lead to:
Persistent symptoms therefore should not be ignored.
Seek urgent medical evaluation when abdominal pain is severe or persistent, particularly if it is accompanied by symptoms suggesting significant inflammation, infection or another acute abdominal condition.
Westin Hospitals provides 24×7 Emergency and Trauma Care in Madhapur for patients requiring urgent assessment.
Yes. Many people have silent gallstones that cause no symptoms and may be discovered incidentally during imaging.
Gallstones generally remain unless treated or removed. Nonsurgical treatments are available only for selected patients and certain types of stones.
Ultrasound is generally the preferred imaging test for finding gallstones. Additional tests may be recommended depending on symptoms or suspected complications.
Yes. The gallbladder is not an essential organ. After removal, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine.
A gastroenterologist can evaluate gallstones and related digestive symptoms. If surgery is required, a general or gastrointestinal surgeon may become involved.
If you have repeated upper-right abdominal pain, gallstones detected on ultrasound or recurring digestive symptoms, consult the Gastroenterology Department at Westin Hospitals, Madhapur.
When surgical treatment is required, evaluation can be coordinated with GI and Minimal Access Surgery.
You can Book an Appointment or Contact Westin Hospitals.