Gallbladder disease is one of the most common reasons for abdominal pain presentations in general practice — but managing gallstones, gallbladder polyps and incidental findings isn’t always straightforward.

In this episode of sMater, a podcast by clinicians for clinicians, hosts Jillian Whiting and Dr Maria Boulton are joined by Mater Hepatobiliary Surgeon Dr Harsheet Sethi to unpack the latest evidence, myths and practical guidance on gallbladder disease.

Together, they explore:

• How common gallstones are in Australia and who is most at risk
• Typical and atypical presentations of biliary colic
• How to interpret incidental gallbladder findings on ultrasound
• When to worry about gallbladder polyps, porcelain gallbladder and cancer risk
• Surveillance vs referral: what GPs should do and when
• The impact of weight loss, pregnancy and GLP‑1 medications on gallstones
• Best‑practice timing for cholecystectomy and management of waiting‑list patients
• Post‑cholecystectomy myths, complications and ongoing symptoms

This episode provides clear, practical takeaways for GPs and clinicians, helping cut through uncertainty, reduce unnecessary referrals, and support confident, evidence‑based decision‑making in everyday practice.

🎧 sMater is brought to you by Mater, an Australian leader in healthcare for more than a century.

GP Education activity log:

Podcast title: sMater: Gallbladder disease
Provider: Mater Misericordiae Ltd
Date published: 31 March 2026
Certificate of completion: sMater Certificate of Completion

To learn more about Mater, visit https://www.mater.org.au/