Gallstones

About Gallstones

Gallstones cholelithiasis affect approximately 10 to 15 percent of adults in developed countries. Stones form when bile components cholesterol or bilirubin crystallize in the gallbladder. Risk factors include female sex, age over 40, obesity, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, and certain ethnicities Native Americans have the highest rates. Most gallstones are asymptomatic. Symptomatic gallstones cause biliary colic, characterized by right upper quadrant pain lasting 30 minutes to several hours, typically after fatty meals. Complications include acute cholecystitis inflammation of the gallbladder, pancreatitis, and cholangitis. Diagnosis is made through ultrasound. The standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, one of the most commonly performed surgeries. Hundreds of thousands of cholecystectomies are performed each year in the US alone. Severe persistent abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a high temperature with abdominal pain needs urgent medical assessment. Medications ursodeoxycholic acid can dissolve cholesterol stones but have high recurrence rates. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding very rapid weight loss are associated with a lower risk of gallstones.