Gallstones
Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in the gallbladder, often asymptomatic but can cause pain and other symptoms if they block bile ducts.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
What are Gallstones?
Formation:
- Gallstones are solid, pebble-like pieces of material, usually made of cholesterol or bilirubin, that form in the gallbladder.
Size:
- They can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.
Location:
- They can be present in the gallbladder itself (cholelithiasis) or in the bile ducts (choledocholithiasis).
Cause:
- Gallstones form when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens into stone-like material, often due to an imbalance in the chemical make-up of bile, such as too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or not enough bile salts.
Symptoms:
- Many people with gallstones have no symptoms, but some experience pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, or other digestive issues, especially after eating fatty foods.
Complications:
- If a gallstone blocks a bile duct, it can lead to a gallbladder attack (biliary colic), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or pancreatitis.
Treatment:
- Treatment for gallstones depends on the severity of symptoms and may include medication to dissolve stones, or surgery to remove the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy).