28/04/2023
Gall bladder is a sac like structure which is located near liver. The function of gall bladder is to store the bile that is required to digest fat. Fat passes through stomach and gets into the small intestine and the gall bladder gets the signal to release the bile. Bile is a liquid which contains enzymes which cholesterol, bile salts and certain pigments. When the amount of cholesterol present in bile becomes excessive it starts depositing in the gall bladder. These depositions cause formation of gall stones. We can see lot of patients with gall stones. Very small sized gall stones might not cause any problems. But over a period of time, getting increased in number or in size, they can cause blockage to the release of the bile.. causing very severe pain. This kind of pain due to gall stones is an indication for an emergency cholecystectomy i.e. removal of the gall bladder. Pregnancy with gall stones is not a worrisome condition as it doesn't has any direct harmful effect on pregnancy.. but if in case the gall stones are very big and we know it prior to pregnancy or we had an inflammation on the gall bladder or so previously, then it is advisable to remove the gall bladder and then go ahead with the pregnancy. In patients with very small sized gall stone and no symptoms, surgery can be skipped..Just that patient should be counseled about taking less cholesterol, less fatty food, less sugar in diet. So that less bile is needed to digest it. because you need a lot of bile to digest it. More fats ,more bile is released sj more chances of occlusion causing gall stone pain and thus leading to surgery. But in case there is any severe strain in pregnancy, then definitely action should be taken and laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be planned in pregnancy.
