Do all gallbladder stones require removal of the gallbladder?

  Gallbladder stones are one of the most common digestive system diseases. In a small number of patients, gallbladder stones can induce biliary colic, followed by bacterial infection, manifesting as acute and chronic cholecystitis, and long-term chronic cholecystitis can even develop into gallbladder cancer. Cholecystectomy is the main surgical treatment for symptomatic gallbladder stones.  However, most patients with gallbladder stones are asymptomatic. Do asymptomatic gallbladder stones require surgical intervention? Surgical removal of the gallbladder is recommended when gallbladder stones are combined with the following conditions, which are expected to induce acute and chronic cholecystitis, cardiopulmonary disease, and gallbladder cancer in the future: 1. stones larger than 3 cm, mud-like stones or gallbladder-filled stones; 2. combined with surgery requiring open abdomen; 3. with gallbladder polyps; 4. thickened gallbladder wall; 5. gallbladder atrophy, gallbladder wall calcification or porcelain gallbladder; 6. gallbladder stones in children; 7. combined Diabetes mellitus; 8, with cardiopulmonary dysfunction; 9, remote or underdeveloped transportation areas, field workers; 10, found gallbladder stones for more than 10 years.  If asymptomatic gallbladder stones are not combined with the above conditions, is it not necessary to manage them? Not really. On the one hand, gallbladder stones can drain into the common bile duct to induce acute cholangitis and pancreatitis, and even threaten the patient’s life. On the other hand, gallbladder stones are an important causative factor of gallbladder cancer. As gallbladder stones cause chronic inflammation of gallbladder and long-term stimulation of gallbladder by stones, “asymptomatic gallbladder stones” may become cancerous, and once they become malignant gallbladder cancer, they often metastasize to liver and other organs. The average survival period is only about half a year, and the prognosis is very poor. We often see this in clinical practice, and the patients and their families often regret too much. Therefore, patients with “asymptomatic gallbladder stones” should be reminded to review ultrasound every 3-6 months to monitor the gallbladder and stone condition. Patients who have a strong desire for gallbladder preservation and meet the following conditions can choose laparoscopic gallbladder stone removal – biliary stone extraction.  Suitable for: 1, age 18-75 years; 2, no serious cardiopulmonary disease and can tolerate general anesthesia surgery; 3, imaging examination confirms the presence of stones in the gallbladder; 4, the number of stones does not exceed 5 and the length diameter of individual stones is 0.8-1.5 px; 5, no gallbladder cervical duct stones; 6, no gallbladder polyp-like lesions; 7, smooth or slightly hairy gallbladder wall with thickness ≤ 2 mm; 8, gallbladder contractile function. Lipid meal test, gallbladder contraction > 50% within 2h after meal; 9, no combined common bile duct stones; 10, all indicators of liver function are within normal range; 11, no metabolic syndrome and family history, all blood biochemical indicators are normal, BMI ≤ 25.