Gallstones Photo: VCG

A woman in in Southwest China's Chongqing has kept 21 gallstones as souvenirs after a surgery and played with the gallstones as a means of reliving stress, attracting the attention of netizens.

According to Chinese media report on Wednesday, in a recent medical procedure in Chongqing, a 29-year-old woman surnamed Wang underwent surgery to treat her cholecystolithiasis, commonly known as gallstones.

During the operation, doctors successfully removed 24 gallstones, with one sent for examination and two crushed stones discarded, leaving Wang with the remaining 21 gallstones. 

Following the surgery, Wang played with the gallstones like a stress relief device in her hand, attracting the attention of those around her. 

Her behavior has sparked widespread discussion online, with many netizens expressing a strong interest in the gallstones. 

Some suggested that Wang make them into a bracelet, and there have been reports of individuals attempting to sell images of the gallstones without permission.

Wang stated that since these gallstones are all unique "one-of-a-kind" items, she has no intention of either processing or selling them.

According to public data, the formation of gallstones is mainly related to an imbalance of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts in the bile. When cholesterol and bilirubin exceed the concentration that bile can dissolve, they crystallize and gradually deposit in the gallbladder, eventually forming stones.

Cholecystolithiasis can cause a range of symptoms and complications, including upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and indigestion. When stones block the gallbladder or bile ducts, it can lead to serious complications such as acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, and even gallbladder perforation in extreme cases.

Global Times