In addition, the slight risk of developing gallbladder cancer might encourage younger people who are asymptomatic to have their gallbladders removed. In-Hospital Treatment for Biliary Pain Patients who come to the hospital for acute biliary pain are given fluids and pain killers. Drugs to stop vomiting may also be administered. Patients with evidence of infection, including fever or an elevated white blood cell count, will be put on antibiotics. If a patient has been admitted to the hospital with acute cholecystitis, surgery is often warranted but is usually performed at least 48 hours after admission when inflammation has subsided.
Some patients can wait longer.
If biliary duct stones are suspected, the patient may require ERCP for diagnosis and treatment. If the patient has no fever or underlying serious medical problems and shows no signs of severe pain or complications and if laboratory tests are normal, then he or she may be discharged with oral antibiotics and pain relievers. Every year, about 500,000 people have their gallbladders removed. Candidates for surgery are patients who have experienced one very severe or several less severe gallstone attacks, or who have cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Cholecystectomy may be performed within several days of hospitalization for an acute attack.