Gallstones, also known as cholelithiasis, are a common and potentially painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of gallstones, including their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. We will also discuss how to prevent gallstones and what lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk. By the end of this blog, you will have a better understanding of gallstones and how to manage them.
The gallbladder is a small organ located on the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It stores and concentrates bile, the digestive fluid produced by the liver.
Gallstones form when bile hardens into solid particles due to an imbalance in the chemical make-up of bile in the gallbladder, resulting in an excess accumulation of cholesterol, bilirubin, or calcium in the bile. The gallstones grow in the gallbladder and can be as big as golf balls or as small as sand grains.
Additionally, infections in the biliary system, which may also act as an initiating factor in stone formation, may cause damage to the mucosal lining of the gallbladder, leading to the development of gallstones.
Gall bladder stones are characterised by right upper abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, or jaundice
The most common signs and symptoms of gallstones include
Sometimes, gallstones can be asymptomatic (especially in individuals with chronic diabetes) and not cause any symptoms. Typically, they are discovered during a routine medical exam or imaging test. They are usually small and do not require treatment. However, if they grow in size, they can cause pain and other symptoms and may require medical intervention.
The most common complication of gallstones is cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), resulting in severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Other complications include blockage of the common bile duct, which can lead to jaundice, cholangitis (infection of the bile ducts), and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). In rare cases, gallstones can cause gallbladder perforation (a tear in the gallbladder wall), which can be life-threatening.
Gallstones impact a variety of people. The following are possible risk factors for gallstones:
Tests and procedures used to diagnose gallstones and their complications include the following:
Blood tests: Blood tests help to reveal the signs of infection or inflammation of the bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, or liver, or other complications caused by gallstones.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests such as abdominal ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, cholecystography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), among others, help to confirm the presence of gallstones.
Treatment options for gallstones are determined by the size and type of stones as well as the symptoms they cause. Small gallstones that do not cause symptoms may not necessitate treatment. In this case, the doctor may advise regular checkups to monitor the gallstones.
However, if the gallstones are causing symptoms, your doctor may advise one of the following treatments:
Patients may need to have an ERCP with stone removal before having their gallbladder laparoscopically removed, typically 24 hours apart, if they have complicated gallbladder stones (jaundice, cholangitis, and pancreatitis).
Patients who had a laparoscopic gallbladder removal with no surgical complications should be able to walk after 4 hours, start a liquid diet after 6 hours, and resume their regular diet after 12 hours.
Preventive measures for gallstones include:
The majority of people with gallstones have no symptoms and do not require treatment. However, if symptoms do occur, treatment options such as medications, dietary changes, and surgery may be recommended. With proper treatment, the majority of people with gallstones can expect to have a good outcome.
About Author –
MS (General Surgery), DNB (Surgical Gastroenterology), FALS (Oncology)
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