Effect of Six Months of Gallbladder Flush on Size and Symptoms of A Patient With Cholelithiasis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Cholelithiasis is a chronic recurrent hepatobiliary disease caused by impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile acids. A gallbladder flush (GBF) involves consuming olive oil, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar, along with dietary restrictions. Previous studies have shown that GBF helps dissolve stones; however, it is provided only for a short duration and does not incorporate dietary modifications. Hence, this case report aims to evaluate the effect of repeated GBF sessions combined with an apple-based diet on a patient with cholelithiasis.

METHODS

A 59-year-old male who was diagnosed with cholelithiasis in 2020 visited our hospital on September 1st, 2021. He presented with complaints of nausea and abdominal discomfort after eating, regurgitation, and constipation for the past 6 months. He was on conventional medications (Pantoprazole (40 mg), Domperidone (10 mg) twice a day before food, Biscodyl (5 mg) at night, and Urocidol (150 mg) twice a day, after food). The patient underwent 3 sessions of GBF over the period of 6 months. Ultrasonography (abdomen) was taken before and after each session.

RESULTS

The study's findings showed a reduction in gallstone size from 16 mm to 6.5 mm after 1st session, 6.5 mm to 5 mm after 2nd session, and fragmentation into multiple smaller stones, with the largest measuring 3.6 mm after 3rd session. After 1 month of intervention, the patient's symptoms subsided, and no adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

GBF was effective in reducing the symptoms and the size of the stone in a patient with cholelithiasis. Since this is a single-case study, the generalizability of its findings may be limited. Further clinical trials with a larger sample size are recommended to validate the study's results and assess its applicability in a broader population.

KEYWORDS: cholelithiasis, gallstones, gallbladder flush, naturopathy, case report.