Abu Dhabi · Gallbladder Conditions

Gallbladder Conditions We Treat

Gallstones · Gallbladder Pain · Biliary Colic · Cholecystitis

Gallbladder symptoms can be confusing. Some patients first notice pain after meals, while others discover gallstones on an ultrasound scan done for another reason. Dr Rajarshi Mitra assesses gallstones, biliary colic, cholecystitis, gallbladder sludge, gallbladder polyps and related biliary conditions in Abu Dhabi.

This page is educational. A diagnosis and treatment plan depend on your symptoms, examination, ultrasound findings, blood tests and clinical assessment.

Understand what your ultrasound report may mean and when symptoms need assessment.

Gallstones and biliary colic
Cholecystitis and inflamed gallbladder
Sludge, polyps and bile duct stones
Urgent warning symptoms explained

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Medical illustration of the gallbladder with gallstones, liver, pancreas and bile ducts

Specialist Assessment Gallstones, pain and related biliary conditions

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Not every gallstone causes symptoms — but repeated attacks need assessment

Gallstones are common, and some people have them without symptoms. The concern changes when stones are linked with repeated upper abdominal pain, nausea after meals, gallbladder inflammation, jaundice, pancreatitis or abnormal blood tests. The purpose of assessment is to decide whether the gallbladder is truly responsible for your symptoms and whether treatment should be planned.

Pain after fatty or heavy meals may suggest biliary colic.
Fever, persistent pain or jaundice can suggest a complication.
Ultrasound findings need to be interpreted with your symptoms.
Surgery is discussed when gallstones are symptomatic or complicated.
Diet may reduce triggers for some people, but it does not reliably remove existing gallstones.

Conditions we assess and treat

Gallstones

Solid deposits that form in the gallbladder. They may be silent, or they may cause pain, inflammation or blockage.

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Biliary Colic / Gallbladder Pain

Episodes of upper abdominal pain when a stone temporarily blocks the gallbladder outlet, often after a heavy meal.

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Acute Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused by a stone blocking the cystic duct. It may need urgent hospital treatment.

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Gallbladder Sludge

Thick bile or tiny particles seen on ultrasound. It may be incidental or related to symptoms in selected patients.

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Gallbladder Polyps

Growths on the inner gallbladder wall. Size, appearance and risk factors guide whether monitoring or surgery is discussed.

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Common Bile Duct Stones

Stones that move into the main bile duct. They can cause jaundice, infection or pancreatitis and need prompt assessment.

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Gallstone Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas triggered when a stone blocks the drainage pathway. This usually needs hospital care.

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Porcelain Gallbladder

Calcification of the gallbladder wall. It is uncommon and needs specialist interpretation of imaging and risk.

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Common gallbladder conditions explained

Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Many are made mainly of cholesterol, though other types exist. Some gallstones cause no symptoms and are found incidentally. Others can block the gallbladder outlet and trigger pain, inflammation or complications.

When to consult: Consult a surgeon if gallstones are linked with repeated pain after meals, nausea, emergency visits, abnormal blood tests, gallbladder inflammation or uncertainty about whether surgery is needed.

Biliary Colic / Gallbladder Pain

Biliary colic is pain caused when a gallstone temporarily blocks the gallbladder outlet. Patients often describe pain in the right upper abdomen or upper middle abdomen, sometimes after a heavy or fatty meal. The pain may settle, but repeated attacks often need medical review.

Important: Not every upper abdominal pain is gallbladder pain. Assessment usually includes history, examination, ultrasound review and blood tests when needed.

Acute Cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis means inflammation of the gallbladder, commonly after a stone blocks the cystic duct. Pain may become more persistent and may be associated with fever, tenderness, nausea or raised inflammatory markers.

Important: Suspected cholecystitis should not be managed as a routine diet problem. It may need urgent hospital treatment, antibiotics, imaging and surgical assessment.

Gallbladder Sludge

Gallbladder sludge is thickened bile or tiny particles seen on ultrasound. It can be temporary, incidental or associated with symptoms in some patients. The clinical importance depends on symptoms, blood tests, ultrasound findings and whether complications are suspected.

Important: Sludge alone does not always mean surgery. Repeated symptoms or complications change the discussion.

Gallbladder Polyps

Gallbladder polyps are growths on the inner lining of the gallbladder. Many small polyps are monitored. Larger polyps, growth over time, symptoms or certain risk features may lead to a discussion about surgery.

Important: The decision depends on polyp size, imaging appearance, symptoms and individual risk factors. Bring previous ultrasound reports if you have them.

Common Bile Duct Stones

A gallstone can sometimes move from the gallbladder into the common bile duct. This can block bile drainage and may cause jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, fever, abnormal liver tests or pancreatitis.

Important: Common bile duct stones may need additional tests and sometimes endoscopic treatment before or around the time of gallbladder surgery. This decision is made after specialist assessment.

Gallstone Pancreatitis

Gallstone pancreatitis happens when a stone blocks the drainage pathway shared by bile and pancreatic juices, triggering inflammation of the pancreas. This is usually a hospital-level condition and should not be treated as simple indigestion.

Important: Severe upper abdominal pain, vomiting, fever or feeling very unwell needs urgent medical care.

Porcelain Gallbladder

Porcelain gallbladder refers to calcification of the gallbladder wall. It is uncommon and is usually detected on imaging. The significance depends on the pattern of calcification, symptoms and overall clinical context.

Important: This finding should be reviewed with a surgeon rather than interpreted from the report alone.

When should gallbladder symptoms be treated urgently?

Do not wait for a routine appointment if symptoms suggest a possible complication.

Severe or persistent right upper abdominal pain
Pain with fever or chills
Yellow eyes or yellow skin
Repeated vomiting
Dark urine or pale stools
Confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty or chest pain
Severe pain during pregnancy or in a medically vulnerable patient

In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.

How gallbladder conditions are evaluated

A safe decision depends on matching symptoms with test results. One ultrasound report is important, but it is not the whole picture.

Symptoms and meal pattern

We ask about pain location, duration, triggers, fever, vomiting, jaundice and previous attacks.

Ultrasound / imaging review

Ultrasound helps identify stones, sludge, wall thickening, duct size, polyps and other findings.

Blood tests

Liver function tests, inflammatory markers and pancreatic enzymes may be needed depending on symptoms.

Medical fitness

Age, diabetes, heart conditions, blood thinners, previous surgery and anaesthesia fitness affect planning.

Insurance and pre-authorisation

For planned surgery, reports and medical indication are usually needed for insurance approval.

What treatment may be discussed?

Treatment depends on whether gallstones are causing symptoms or complications. The decision is individual and should not be based only on the size or number of stones.

No symptoms

Gallstones found incidentally may not need surgery immediately. Monitoring and medical advice may be enough unless risk factors or complications are present.

Repeated biliary colic

If attacks keep recurring, laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be discussed to prevent further episodes and complications.

Acute cholecystitis

Inflamed gallbladder may require urgent hospital care, antibiotics, imaging and surgical planning.

Common bile duct stones

Additional tests or endoscopic treatment may be needed before or around the time of gallbladder surgery.

Gallstone pancreatitis

This usually requires hospital assessment and treatment. Gallbladder surgery timing depends on severity and recovery.

Diet and symptom control

Some patients reduce attacks by avoiding meals that repeatedly trigger symptoms, especially very heavy or fatty meals. Diet may help symptoms, but it does not reliably dissolve existing gallstones.

Illustration of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy: surgical team using keyhole instruments with the gallbladder shown on a monitor

When surgery is needed, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually discussed

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder through small incisions using a camera and precision instruments. It is commonly used for symptomatic gallstones and selected related conditions when surgery is medically appropriate.

Many patients go home within 24 hours when medically appropriate. The exact plan depends on medical fitness, inflammation, test results, anaesthesia recovery and the surgical team’s assessment.

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Experienced gallbladder surgery care in Abu Dhabi

Dr Rajarshi Mitra has more than 20 years of surgical experience, including over 4,500 laparoscopic surgeries and more than 2,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Patients can also read 700+ five-star Google reviews directly on his Google Business Profile.

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Gallbladder conditions — common questions

What are the common symptoms of gallstones?

Gallstones may cause no symptoms. When they do cause symptoms, patients may notice pain in the right upper abdomen or upper middle abdomen, often after heavy meals, along with nausea, bloating or indigestion. An ultrasound scan and medical assessment are needed to confirm whether the gallbladder is the cause.

What is biliary colic?

Biliary colic is pain that happens when a gallstone temporarily blocks the gallbladder outlet. The pain may settle, but repeated attacks should be assessed because they can recur or lead to complications.

How is cholecystitis different from biliary colic?

Biliary colic is usually temporary blockage and pain. Cholecystitis means inflammation of the gallbladder, often with more persistent pain, tenderness, fever or abnormal blood tests. Suspected cholecystitis may need urgent hospital care.

Does every gallstone need surgery?

No. Gallstones that cause no symptoms are often monitored. Surgery is usually discussed when gallstones cause repeated pain, inflammation, jaundice, pancreatitis or other complications. The decision depends on individual assessment.

Can diet dissolve gallstones?

Diet may reduce symptoms for some people by avoiding meals that repeatedly trigger attacks, especially very heavy or fatty meals. However, diet does not reliably dissolve existing gallstones. Recurrent symptoms should be medically assessed.

What is gallbladder sludge?

Gallbladder sludge is thickened bile or tiny particles seen on ultrasound. It may be temporary or incidental, but in some patients it can be linked with symptoms or complications. Its importance depends on the full clinical picture.

Are gallbladder polyps dangerous?

Most small gallbladder polyps are monitored, but larger polyps, growth over time, symptoms or certain risk features may need surgical discussion. Previous ultrasound reports are useful for comparison.

When should gallbladder symptoms be treated urgently?

Seek urgent medical care for severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever or chills, yellow eyes or skin, repeated vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, chest pain, breathing difficulty or fainting. In the UAE, call 998 in an emergency.

Patient education sources

This page is written for patient education and reviewed in the context of Dr Rajarshi Mitra’s surgical practice. It does not replace a consultation.

Last medically reviewed by Dr Rajarshi Mitra — July 2026

Have gallstones or repeated gallbladder pain?

Book a consultation with Dr Rajarshi Mitra’s team in Abu Dhabi. Bring your ultrasound report, blood tests if available, medication list and insurance details so the safest next step can be planned clearly.

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