Delhi: Doctors of Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh removes 838 gallstones

A team of specialists doctors in Delhi has been able to remove 830 stones from the gallbladder of 60-year women. According to the reports, it is said that the patient was suspected to be suffering from the cancerous tumour.

A two-hour laparoscopic procedure was performed on the patient in January to remove her gallbladder at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh.The patient was having a fever and was advised to undergo ultrasound and CT scan.

"The patient's gallbladder was extremely inflamed and had grown six times its original size. As per the plan, this was a laparoscopic surgery wherein her gallbladder would be removed," said Amit Javed, consultant, gastrointestinal surgery, at Fortis Hospital.

"However, after its removal, when we opened the gallbladder to look at what was inside before sending it for biopsy, to our astonishment, we found several hundred small and large gallstones inside it. In total, there were 838 gallstones," Mr Javed said.

Gallstones cause inflammation of gall bladder, severe pain and symptoms of indigestion and complications like blockage of the bile duct, leading to jaundice, severe infection, and pancreatitis. They are also commonly found in patients with gall bladder cancer.

"The only remedy to both gallstones as well as cancer of the gallbladder is complete removal of the organ. Gallstones are masses formed abnormally in the gall bladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol, and calcium salts.

"Gallstones can also develop when there is too much cholesterol in the bile secreted by the liver. The incidents of gallbladder cancer in North and Central India are very high, and commoner in women. Northern India is much more prone to gallbladder cancer than South India," said Mahipal Bhanot, Facility Director at the hospital.