Surgeon Arbër Morina Warns Against Delaying Gallstone Surgery

PRISHTINA — Surgeon Arbër Morina has urged the public not to postpone surgery for gallbladder stones, stressing that delays can lead to complications including acute inflammation, pancreatitis or liver damage, according to an interview published by Telegrafi on April 24.

According to Morina, many patients reach the emergency department only after symptoms have escalated, even though stones can be detected early through routine ultrasound. He stressed that laparoscopic procedures are now standardised, with short recovery times and low risk compared with open surgery.

Symptoms Not to Ignore

The specialist listed several warning signs that should send a patient to the doctor: sharp pain in the right side of the abdomen, nausea after fatty meals, yellowing of the eyes or skin and fever that may indicate biliary tract infection.

According to Telegrafi’s paraphrase, surgeon Morina stressed that “every patient with gallbladder pain symptoms should be assessed without delay”, as small stones can block the biliary tract and put the liver and pancreas at risk.

Telegrafi has published several articles in April on gallbladder disease, including another interview with the same specialist on April 21, where he explained the risks of small asymptomatic stones. The core message in both pieces is that patients should not rely on temporary medication alone.

Data published in medical literature show that gallstones are a common condition in the adult population, especially in women over 40 and in people with obesity or fatty diets. Public and private clinics in Kosovo provide laparoscopic procedures, although fees and waiting lists vary by institution.

Family doctors advise that any recurrent pain in the upper right abdomen should be evaluated with an ultrasound and biochemical tests before the patient leaves the consultation.

Source: Telegrafi, interview with surgeon Arbër Morina, April 24, 2026.