Dr Öncel Yakar’s comments

Gallstones, which affect almost 20% of the general population, mostly remain ‘silent’. In this asymptomatic group, gallstones are detected incidentally during examinations performed for other reasons or during screening examinations such as check-ups. They may remain silent for many years, without causing any complaints.

The most common symptoms of stones are abdominal bloating, indigestion, and pain in the stomach, right flank, and back. If gallstones cause a complication, more serious problems such as gallbladder inflammation, biliary tract obstruction, or pancreatitis may occur. Although the diagnosis and treatment processes of each of these conditions differ, the common denominators are the complaints of sudden and severe pain in the right side generally radiating to the back, nausea and vomiting. Some of them also have different complaints such as high fever, chills, jaundice, darkening of urine color or whitening of stool color. In the presence of any of these complaints, a doctor should be consulted.

The gallbladder, which has the task of storing and concentrating some of the bile produced by the liver which is required for fat digestion, is a sac-shaped organ located beneath the liver. Gallstones, which are formed by the imbalance of the chemical composition in the bile, are extremely common. It is reported to be found in approximately one out of every 10 people. Although the incidence is high, it does not always cause symptoms. Gallstones that do not cause complaints do not need to be treated. Gallbladder surgery is required only in case of symptoms or if the physician decides for a surgical procedure for other reasons. Successful results are obtained with laparoscopic cholecystectomy, that is, the method of removing the gallbladder with a minimally invasive method.

With more than 25 years of experience in the surgical treatment of liver-biliary tract-pancreatic diseases and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in addition to liver transplantation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Didem Öncel Yakar answers your questions.

With the experience of working in this field for many years and performing many surgeries, we are by your side for diagnosis, selection of appropriate treatment and management of surgical processes in our private practice in Ataşehir. May health be with us in every moment of our lives.