Where Is Gallbladder Pain Felt, and When Does It Need Removal?

• In the upper abdomen under the ribs on the right side, or in the middle of the upper abdomen just below the breastbone.
• It may spread to the right side, the right shoulder, or between the shoulder blades.
• It starts suddenly, often after a fatty meal or at night, usually lasts from one to five hours, and may come with nausea or vomiting.

Upper right abdominal pain can also come from an ulcer, the liver or even the heart, so diagnosis needs an examination and an ultrasound.

• Pain lasting more than six hours with a fever, which may mean an inflamed gallbladder.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools.
• Very severe upper abdominal pain that spreads to the back.

Any of these needs the emergency department straight away.

No. Stones found by chance that cause no symptoms usually need no treatment. If pain attacks keep coming back, or complications such as inflammation or jaundice develop, removing the gallbladder is the usual treatment, and biliary attacks stop for most patients afterwards, although some notice bloating or looser stools for a while.

The operation is usually done through four small cuts under general anaesthetic, with the abdomen inflated with carbon dioxide so the organs can be seen clearly. You can live normally without a gallbladder, because the liver keeps making bile. Your surgeon will advise on hospital stay and return to work. Details are on our laparoscopic gallbladder removal in Dubai page.

Possible risks include bleeding, infection, bile leak and, rarely, injury to the bile duct, as well as the risks of anaesthesia. Some patients feel shoulder pain for a day or two from the gas.