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Introduction
Gallstones form in the gallbladder when compounds which are usually found in dissolved form in normal bile come out of solution. They coalesce and form crystals which progressively increase in size, form grit or stones and may start to give symptoms.
Stones are formed form cholesterol and the breakdown products of red blood cells as well as Calcium. If gallstones remain in the gallbladder they can give rise to (biliary) colic when the gall bladder contracts or cholecystitis when it distends and becomes inflamed, often infection intervenes as a result.
They are more common in women, the obese and in early to mid adulthood. Every year between 2 and 4% of people with gallstones develop symptoms. Gallstones are usually diagnosed on an ultrasound scan of the abdomen
Symptoms
Biliary Colic
During an attack abdominal pain is experienced usually in the upper right side of the abdomen under the ribs and lasts for more than half an hour. This may radiate round into the back under the scapula. The pain usually takes the form of often severe colicky discomfort that may wax and wane over several hours but remains present at least in the background throughout. It may be associated nausea and vomiting; patients often report an inability to get comfortable in any position despite a variety of attempts. Attacks are often precipitated by ingestion of a fatty meal.
Cholecystitis
Pain is experienced in the upper right side of the abdomen under the ribs. This may radiate round into the back under the scapula. The pain is usually constant in nature and worse with movement or deep breathing. It is accompanied by fever and occasionally chills or uncontrolled shakes.
Treatment
In both clinical scenarios above the treatment is with hospital admission and adequate provision of pain relief. This usually requires the intravenous administration of strong morphine like drugs and fluids. In the case of cholecystitis antibiotics are given in a similar way. In each case optimum treatment is by early operation and removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) usually performed laparoscopically within a week of the onset of symptoms.
Complications of gallstones
When gallstones are squeezed out of the gallbladder into the cystic, then common bile duct a variety of more complicated clinical scenarios may emerge.
Jaundice
Blockage of the narrow duct system from the liver by a gallstone results in the blockage of bile secretion from the liver into the gut. Patients become jaundiced and may notice paler stools, darker urine and severe generalised itching. Cholangitis may occur if the static stream of bile becomes infected.
Pancreatitis
If a gallstone impacts at the lower end of the common bile duct where it joins the pancreatic duct, pancreatic secretion may be impaired and inflammation within the pancreatic duct and pancreas results.
Treatment of complex cases
When gallstones have left the gallbladder but not safely reached the gut, they become stuck in the biliary duct system; treatment is directed towards their destruction or extraction before removal of the gallbladder is undertaken. These impacted stones may be identified by blood tests, ultrasound or by MRI of the duct system.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio- Pancreatography (ERCP) is the treatment of choice. Under sedation an endoscope is inserted through the mouth to the duodenum and then the biliary duct system is accessed and cleared using a balloon or snare device.