Some alternatives for gallstones surgery
How gallbladder stone treatment without operation? Surgery is a common treatment for gallstones, but there are some alternatives to surgery. Read on to learn alternatives for gallstones, plus tips to help prevent this condition.
1.Small Gallstones Can Be Broken Apart With Shock Waves
Another nonsurgical treatment for which gallstones must meet certain criteria is extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A non-surgical treatment that uses shock waves to break down/fragment the gallstones if they are less than 2 cm in diameter. Although it is most commonly used to treat kidney stones, it can also be used on gallstones. The goal of the treatment is to break up, or fragment, gallstones by sending shock waves through the soft tissue of the body.
2.Medication
In early cases of gallstones, medications such as ursodiol or chenodiol can dissolve some gallstones. They are available as oral bile acid pills. These medications cause thinning of the bile, helping gallstones dissolve. Medication to reduce cholesterol levels in the bile may help dissolve certain types of gallstones, but they are not very effective. These medications usually take years to work and do not prevent a recurrence.
3.Endoscopic Drainage Follows the Gallbladder’s Natural Path
Endoscopic drainage mimics the healthy route of bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. Endoscopic treatment involves accessing the cystic duct with a camera through the mouth and down the throat. Then a wire is placed through the duct into the gallbladder. It is coiled to imitate the trajectory of the bile out of the small intestine, which is the same process as that of a healthy gallbladder. Kumta says that this form of treatment allows the gallbladder to resume normal bile disposal.
4.Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) Injection
This non-surgical treatment involves injecting a solvent called MTBE into the gallbladder to dissolve the gallstones. But there can be some serious side effects, such as severe burning pain. MTBE creates fumes, and if it’s not administered properly in a ventilated area, it could cause severe burning for the patient and operators, and even cause electrical fires. Inquire about your doctor’s level of experience with performing this procedure before getting this form of treatment.
