About every 5th woman and every 10th man over 40 years of age have gallstones. Gallstones can be detected using an ultrasound scan. Gallstones often do not cause any discomfort at first, but they can always lead to cramp-like pain in the upper abdomen, so-called bilious attacks. Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) can be considered from this point on. However, the gallbladder should definitely be removed immediately when an inflammation is detected.

Waiting too long before the operation can result in gallstones also moving into the main bile duct and thus blocking biliary drainage. In addition to massive pain, this leads to liver damage with jaundice. The situation becomes even more complicated when gallstones also moves the common outlet with the pancreatic duct into the duodenum and thus additionally cause inflammation of the pancreas.