Gallstones are very common in the population with around 20% of adults having gallstones disease without their knowledge. Gallstones can however become symptomatic in some people causing pain, infection and occasionally the stones can travel into the bile duct where they can block the drainage of the liver and the pancreas, causing potential serious harm. The only proven way to treat symptomatic gallstones is to remove the gallbladder and the stones within it, which can be effectively done via a laparoscopic (keyhole) route. This is one of Mr Andrews’s specialist areas, performing it as an emergency when patients are admitted with gallbladder infections or as a planned operation when patients get occasional discomfort. Mr Andrews trains many surgeons in this surgeons and has published many articles.
