### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
Hello doctor , I am a 31yrs old male....i had an ultra sound scan recently which showed a gall stone of 6.8mm.....Is there any alternate option to remove the stones rather than surgery ...If not whether there exists any surgery which removes gall stones without removing the gall bladder?Is the gall bladder removal affects a person s health in anyway causing post surgical problems?is there any method to dissolve the gall stone?pls reply me doctor.....

### output:

Hi. Please read the answer on assuming that the gall stone you have mentioned is in the gall bladder; in other words we are discussing gallbladder stone.1. If you do not have symptoms referable to the gallbladder stone which is of ~ 7 mm diameter, you need not hurriedly go in for surgery. You can monitor the course of the stone by serial ultrasound scans (once every 6 months for initial 2 years, followed by once a year). Decision to operate can be taken anytime if the need arises (e.g. continued dyspeptic symptoms like indigestion in the absence of acid reflux (proven on endoscopy) / attacks of acute infection / jaundice etc.).2. If indication for surgery is clear-cut, then removal of the gall bladder is the operation of choice in today's time.  3. Only stones can't be removed leaving behind the gall bladder to avoid the recurrence of stone formation.4. If the operation has gone well without complications, then usually there are no post-operative problems. 5. Medicines are available even in modern medical field to dissolve stones. However, these medicines can't be prescribed life-long due to their potential side effects. Moreover, +ve effect if any, reverts after the medicine is discontinued. Thanks.