Gallstone Disease

Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ that stores bile. They are common, with a prevalence of about 10-15% in adults in Europe and the US. Most people with gallstones don't experience symptoms, but when they do, it's often due to a gallstone obstructing the gallbladder causing pain and other complications.

· Formation:

Gallstones are formed from substances found in bile, primarily cholesterol and bilirubin, which can crystallize and harden.

· Types:

The most common type is cholesterol stones, which are usually yellow-brown. Pigment stones, which are less common, are made of bilirubin.

· Size and Number:

Gallstones can vary in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a pebble, and can be single or multiple.

· Location:

Gallstones are typically found in the gallbladder itself, but they can also travel into the bile ducts (the tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine).

Symptoms of Gallstones:

· Asymptomatic:

Most people with gallstones experience no symptoms and may not even know they have them.

· Biliary Colic:

When gallstones block the gallbladder, they can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper abdomen (biliary colic), which may radiate to the side, back or shoulder.

· Other Symptoms:

Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, indigestion. If gallstones become lodges in the tube draining bile from the liver to the bowel (bile duct) they can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Treatment of Gallstones:

· No Treatment (if Asymptomatic):

If gallstones are not causing symptoms, they may not require any treatment.

· Surgery:

If gallstones cause frequent or severe symptoms, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) may be necessary.