Gallstones Disease
Gallstones are “stones” that form in the gallbladder. The common types of gallstones are cholesterol, black pigment and brown pigment.
Gallbladder pain is (often misspelled “gall bladder”) an all-inclusive term used to describe any pain due to disease related to the gallbladder.
The major gallbladder problems that produce gallbladder pain are:
– Cholecystitis
– Gallstones
– Pancreatitis
– Ascending Cholangitis
– Cholecystitis
– Gallstones
– Pancreatitis
– Ascending Cholangitis
The majority of people with gallstones have no signs or symptoms and are unaware of their gallstones. (The gallstones are “silent.”)
These gallstones often are found as a result of tests (for example, ultrasound, or X-rays of the abdomen) performed while evaluating medical conditions other than gallstones.
Symptoms can appear later in life, however, after many years without symptoms. Thus, over a period of five years, approximately 10% of people with silent gallstones will develop symptoms. Once symptoms develop, they are likely to continue and often will worsen. Symptoms like nausea and bloating and may be triggered by eating certain foods. Biliary colic is a very specific type of pain, occurring as the primary or only symptom in 80% of people with gallstones who develop symptoms.
Complications of gallstones include cholangitis, gangrene of the gallbladder, jaundice, pancreatitis, sepsis, fistula, and ileus.
The best single test for diagnosing gallstones is transabdominal ultrasonography.
Gallstones are managed primarily with observation (no treatment) or removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Currently, the surgical method of choice is laparoscopic surgery, where the gallbladder is removed by instruments using only small incisions in the abdomen. However, some patients may require more extensive surgery.
