Gallstones

Overview

Gallstones are small, hard stones that develop in the gallbladder. The three main types of Gall Stones are cholesterol, pigment, and mixed stones. They vary in size from that of a sand grain to the size of a marble.

Signs and Symptoms

Asymptomatic, Severe pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen or middle of the abdomen, Back pain at the tip of the scapula, Pain in the right shoulder, Nausea and vomiting, Fever, Jaundice, Tea-coloured urine, Light-coloured stools

Common Causes

Too much cholesterol in the bile due to obesity and high-fat diet, Decreased bile salts leading to excessive bilirubin in the bile due to use of certain medications and hepatobiliary disease, Decreased enterohepatic circulation

Risk Factors

Being female, Age 40 and above, Being a native American or Mexican-American, Obesity, Sedentary lifestyle, Pregnancy, High cholesterol and low fibre diet, Family history of Gall Stones, Diabetes, Usage of certain medications containing estrogen such as hormone therapy drugs and oral contraceptive pills, Certain health conditions such as primary biliary cirrhosis and biliary tract infection, Trauma and surgery

Investigation Techniques

Blood tests including full blood count, serum amylase level, liver function test, and renal function test, Transabdominal ultrasound, Abdominal x-ray, Abdominal and pelvic computerised tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Treatment and Prevention

A low-fat diet, Analgesics, Antibiotics, Oral dissolution therapy using medications such as ursodiol and chenodiol, Shock wave lithotripsy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Surgery such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open cholecystectomy