Gallstones are one of the more common reasons patients in Shyamoli end up consulting a general surgeon, often after months of vague digestive discomfort that gets mistaken for gastritis or acidity. Left untreated, they can lead to sudden, severe pain or serious complications. Alliance Hospital BD, located on Khilji Road (Ring Road) in Shyamoli, provides complete gallstone treatment — from ultrasound diagnosis through laparoscopic gallbladder removal — supported by a dedicated General Surgery team and 24-hour emergency care for complicated cases.
This guide covers what gallstones are, the symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored, how they’re diagnosed, and the treatment options available for patients in Shyamoli and nearby Mohammadpur.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that form inside the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile used for digesting fat. They form when substances in bile — usually cholesterol or bilirubin — crystallize, ranging in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Some people carry gallstones for years without symptoms, while others develop pain as soon as a stone blocks the flow of bile.
Gallstones tend to form more often in people who are overweight, over 40, or female, and there’s often a genetic or family tendency involved as well. Rapid weight loss, a high-fat or high-cholesterol diet, prolonged fasting, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes can also increase risk. In many cases, though, gallstones develop without any single identifiable cause.
Many gallstones stay silent and are only discovered incidentally during an ultrasound for something else. When symptoms do appear, they usually include sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen that can spread to the back or right shoulder blade, particularly after a fatty meal. This is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, bloating, or indigestion. Some patients notice the pain comes in episodes lasting a few hours before easing, known as biliary colic.
These symptoms can indicate a blocked bile duct, gallbladder infection, or inflammation of the pancreas — all of which require prompt evaluation. Alliance Hospital’s Accidental & Emergency Center in Shyamoli operates 24 hours with direct access to the surgical team for exactly this kind of situation.
An abdominal ultrasound is the standard first step and is usually enough to confirm the presence of gallstones. Depending on the case, blood tests may be used to check for infection or bile duct blockage, and in more complex situations, a CT scan or MRI may be used to get a fuller picture of the bile ducts and surrounding organs before deciding on treatment.
Treatment depends largely on whether the gallstones are causing symptoms. Silent, symptom-free gallstones are sometimes simply monitored. Once symptoms appear, though, they tend to recur, and most surgeons recommend addressing the gallbladder directly rather than managing repeated episodes of pain.
This is the most common and preferred treatment for symptomatic gallstones. Using a few small incisions and a camera-guided approach, the surgeon removes the entire gallbladder, which eliminates the source of the stones rather than just treating individual symptoms. Most patients go home within a day or two and recover significantly faster than with traditional open surgery.
In select cases — severe inflammation, prior abdominal surgeries, or unexpected complications during a laparoscopic procedure — an open approach with a larger incision may be necessary. It remains a safe and effective option when laparoscopic surgery isn’t suitable.
Medications that dissolve certain types of gallstones exist but are slow-acting, not effective for all stone types, and stones often return once treatment stops. For most symptomatic patients, surgery remains the more definitive and reliable solution.
A note on choosing treatment: The right approach depends on stone size, symptoms, gallbladder condition, and overall health. A surgeon’s evaluation — not a general rule — determines what’s appropriate for each patient.
Patients evaluating where to have gallbladder surgery generally look at the surgeon’s experience with laparoscopic procedures, the hospital’s surgical and post-operative facilities, and whether emergency support is available if complications arise. Alliance Hospital’s General Surgery department is led by experienced surgeons, including Prof. Dr. S. M. Amjad Hossen, a former Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, holding MBBS and FCPS (Surgery) qualifications.
For a broader look at general surgical expertise available at Alliance Hospital, see our related article: Best General Surgeon in Shyamoli.
While Alliance Hospital is based in Shyamoli, it regularly treats patients from Mohammadpur, Adabor, and Kallyanpur, given its location just off Ring Road. Patients searching for gallstone treatment or gallbladder surgery near Mohammadpur can reach the hospital within a short drive, with the same surgical team, diagnostic imaging, and 24-hour emergency service available.
Recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is generally quick — most patients resume light activity within a few days to a week and are back to normal routines within two weeks. A low-fat diet is often recommended in the initial weeks as the digestive system adjusts to functioning without a gallbladder, though most people tolerate a normal diet well over time.
Experiencing abdominal pain after meals or diagnosed with gallstones? Alliance Hospital’s General Surgery team in Shyamoli is available for consultation and treatment planning.
No. Symptom-free gallstones found incidentally are often simply monitored. Surgery is typically recommended once gallstones start causing pain or complications, since symptoms tend to recur.
Yes, it’s considered a well-established and routinely performed procedure with a strong safety record, and it’s the preferred approach for most patients due to a faster recovery compared to open surgery.
Yes. The liver continues to produce bile even after gallbladder removal, and most people adjust to a normal diet within a few weeks, sometimes with mild initial changes to fat digestion.
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour, though complex cases with significant inflammation can take longer.
A blocked bile duct can cause jaundice, infection, or inflammation of the pancreas, and typically requires urgent treatment. This is one of the key reasons persistent abdominal pain with yellowing skin or eyes should never be ignored.
