Getting Rid of Gallstones?

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Is there a nonsurgical method of eliminating gallstones?

Most gallstones don’t cause problems. But if they get stuck while trying to pass from the gallbladder (where they form) to the small intestine, they can cause intense pain and, sometimes, nausea and vomiting. Surgery to remove the gallbladder usually is recommended if attacks become frequent and intense. Fortunately, today’s surgery, a procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is a lot easier on patients than the operation of the past, which involved making a big incision in the abdomen. Now, surgeons make several small incisions through which they insert their instruments and a small video camera in order to view, detach, and remove the gallbladder. Because no abdominal muscles are cut, there is less pain, faster recovery, and fewer scars than with the old operation. Most patients recover within days.