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Gallstones are pieces of solid materials that form in the gallbladder and when they block a bile duct and cause pain, you will need to get treatment right away. The treatment option for gallstones depends on how the symptoms are affecting your daily life, which includes laparoscopic surgery, open surgery, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
If you choose to undergo laparoscopic surgery (known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy), your surgeon will make small incisions in your abdomen to insert a laparoscope and special surgical instruments, which will be used to remove your gallbladder. With open surgery, your doctor will make a single large incision on your abdomen and the gallbladder is removed manually. If you undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), your surgeon will only remove gallstones from the bile duct without touching the gallbladder. All of these surgeries are performed under local or general anesthetic.
The length of stay in Belgium depends on which procedure you undergo. In general, you may need to stay for 7 to 14 days after surgery. During your stay, you will have to attend follow-up checkups and your surgeon may remove the stitches if they did not use dissolving stitches.
The type of procedure you undergo determines the recovery period. while you may be able to get back to your normal routine within 10 days after laparoscopic surgery, you may need to wait around 6 weeks to fully recover from open surgery. If you undergo ERCP, you should be able to go back to work after several days.
A healthy and balanced diet is very important to stop gallstones from growing again. Your surgeon will give you instructions regarding dietary restrictions and exercises you need to perform in order to stay healthy after the treatment.
Gallstones treatment is known to be highly effective and successful, with about 90% of people have successful treatment. However, there are some risks and side effects to be aware of and the risks include infection, damage to the bile duct, bleeding, blood clots, and abdominal pain.
If surgery is not an option for you, medication to dissolve gallstones can be the alternative. However, it may take months or years of treatment to treat gallstones using medication. Also, the gallstones may form again if you stop taking the medication.
After the procedure, you will no longer experience the same symptoms you felt before the procedure and the risk of complication is decreased.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Belgium is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in Europe and has some of Europe’s finest cuisine, including the creamiest chocolates and a wide variation of beers. In addition, it is home to extensive beaches, postcard-worthy dunes, historic cities, and beautiful countryside, with belfries, castles, and carnivals. Belgium has enjoyed a growing reputation for being excellent medical tourism as well as the country boasts immaculate clinical standards. The medical centers in the country offer a wide range of specializes treatments, short waiting time, highly-trained medical professionals, and considerably lower medical costs. Orthopedics and heart surgery are the most sought after procedures in Belgium.
Brussels is the capital of Belgium, as well as home to European Union official seats and NATO headquarters. Here, visitors can see Europe’s grandest squares, visit the beloved statue of a little boy peeing into a basin (Manneken Pis), explore Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, and admire the magnificent Grand Palace. Bruges, a pickled Gothic city, is also worth a visit. The key attractions in the city are the 14th-century town hall, the Cathedral of the Holy Savior, and the Belfry Tower. Other popular cities include Antwerp and Ghent. While Antwerp is famous for its fashion and excellent museums, Ghent is best known for its historic quarter and stunning Van Eyck altarpiece in its colossal cathedral.
Belgium has four distinct seasons. Summer in the country is relatively short, starting in July and ending in August. The season is warm, with bearable heat and some intermittent rain. Winter comes in November and extends until March. It can get rather wet and chilly during this season, with an average temperature of around 3 - 7°C. Spring (April – June) and autumn (September – October) are generally nice and warm, with an average temperature of around 10 - 15°C.
The main international airport in Belgium is Brussels Airport. It serves flights to many major cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Doha, London, New York, Atlanta, Casablanca, and Bangkok. Since Belgium is a small country, there are no domestic flights. The public transport system in the country is extremely well-organized and reasonably priced. The best way to get around the country is by train. The trains are affordable, fast, frequent, very punctual, and have a comprehensive network of lines. Buses tend to be used in conjunction with train services, so you will likely need a train-bus combination when traveling, especially to rural areas. Inside cities, the transport systems are centered on buses, but there are also metro and trams in Brussels and Antwerp. Taxis are plentiful in all cities and ensure to hire metered official taxis, which have standard fares.
Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, so nationals of EU/EEA countries do not need a visa to visit the country regardless of their length of stay or purpose of travels. Citizens of 62 countries, including Canadian, Australian, and US nationals, can stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days. Belgium Visa for Medical reasons is available for people who need to obtain medical care in the country.