Doctors at a city hospital recently removed a patient’s gall bladder suspecting cancer but found 838 stones in it instead.
Pushpa was suffering from nausea, fever and was in extreme pain when she presented herself at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh. She was advised to undergo an ultrasound and a CT scan. The results suggested cancer of the gall bladder.
“A team of doctors planned and executed a two-hour laparoscopic procedure in January. The gall bladder was extremely inflamed and six times its original size. It was removed along with part of the liver for immediate pathological examination,” said Amit Javed, consultant, gastrointestinal surgery, at the hospital.
Proceeding with care
The operation was carried out with all precautions to prevent abdominal dissemination and surgical site metastases. The gall bladder was removed in a pouch to avoid contamination and spillage. Post removal, the doctors opened the gall bladder before sending it for biopsy. They were shocked to see that it was full of hundreds of gallstones.
Complications galore
“Gallstones cause inflammation of the gall bladder and can cause severe pain, indigestion and complications like blockage of the bile duct. Cancers of the gall bladder are usually detected only in the final stages since they present with vague symptoms that are not taken seriously,” said Dr. Javed.
Gallstones in adults are masses formed abnormally in the gall bladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol and calcium salts.
