All About Gallstones

The gallbladder

The gallbladder is small sac that lies underneath the liver which is connected to the main bile duct through the cystic duct. Its main role is to act as sort of a reservoir for bile. Bile is produced by the liver where it then travels down through a series of tiny tubes known as bile ducts which eventually coalesce together to form the main bile duct. The bile is in a state of constant flow between the liver through the main bile duct and into the duodenum ( the lower gut) where it is used to help process fat. When we eat, the gallbladder contracts, and the bile within is then pumped into the bile duct systems and onto the duodenum where it helps with the digestion process.

Gallstones

Gallstones are pretty much what happen to bile when it transforms from its normally fluid state into a solid. These stones generally contain bits of hardened cholesterol like substance and the occasional bile pigment or calcium deposits. Gallstones can come in many different types, from multiple small stones to one large stone, or a mix of both.

Epidemiologists consider gallstones a pretty common occurrence whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic. One out of three women and one out of seven men will form gallstones at some point in their lives with certain risk factors (age, pregnancy, obesity, and certain drugs) associated with their formation. A rare type of anemia called hemolytic anemia and certain blood borne infections can also cause gallstones to form. People who are vegetarians and moderate drinkers have a less likely to form gallstones than other groups.

Most people who have gallstones will not ever know that they have them unless they happened to go in for a scan or x-ray of their abdomen for another reason. Most gallstones will sit in the gallbladder and not cause any types of symptom and if you happen to have gallstones, chances are you will not need treatment for them.  That being said, three out of ten people with gallstones do experience symptomatic gallstones.

Symptoms of gallstones:

Biliary colic: Biliary colic is intermittent pain(colic) that originates in the gallbladder (biliary. This pain is usually felt where the gallbladder sits which on the right side of the upper abdomen right below the rib cage. It is usually a distressingly sharp pain that is  caused by a gallstone getting stuck in the cystic duct which goes away  when the stone falls back into the gallbladder. This pain generally comes after eating a hearty meal that is laden with fat. The fat from the meal enters the duodenum thus stimulating the gallbladder to contract hence causing the stone to become jammed in the cystic duct. The pain can last for several minutes to an hour.

Cholecystitis: Cholecyctitis mean inflammation of the gallbladder which can occur when the gallbladder is infected. Fevers, constant pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and just plain feeling unwell are the common symptoms of cholecyctitis. If this happens, it is usually necessary to remove the gallbladder.

Jaundice: Jaundice refers to the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes due to bile build up in the blood stream. This occurs when the stones get out of the gallbladder and wind up getting stuck in the main bile duct forcing the bile to move in the opposite direction ultimately seeping into the bloodstream. If this happens, then a procedure called a ERCP is needed in order to get the stones out of the way.

Other symptoms that might occur include pancreatitis which is the inflammation of the pancreas and cholangitis which is the inflammation of the main bile duct.

Treatments

While most cases of gallstones present little or no symptoms and can be left alone, some do require treatment in the form of surgery or medication.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, also known as a keyhole surgery, may be needed in order to remove the gallbladder from the patient. The surgeon will need to make several small cuts in the abdomen leaving a few scars for the patient to deal with. Like the appendix, the gallbladder is a organ that is not necessarily needed.

Medication: there are medications that can help control pain and fight of the infections that may occur with gallstone disease, but there are none that can actually cure gallstones, making surgery the preferred method of treatment.