Gallstones
Definition :- Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in your gallbladder.
Types :-
- Cholesterol Stones :- These are usually yellow-green and made primarily of hardened cholesterol.
- Pigment Stones :- These are smaller and darker and made of bilirubin, which comes from the breakdown of red blood cells.
Symptoms :-
- Sudden and intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen
- Pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone
- Back pain between your shoulder blades
- Pain in your right shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
Risk Factors :-
- Obesity
- High-fat diet
- High-cholesterol diet
- Low-fiber diet
- Family history of gallstones
- Diabetes
Treatment :-
- Medication to dissolve stones
- Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy)
Bile Duct Stones (Choledocholithiasis)
Definition :- Bile duct stones are gallstones that have moved from the gallbladder into the bile ducts.
Symptoms :-
- Severe abdominal pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Fever and chills
- Dark urine
- Pale stools
Complications :-
- Bile duct infection (cholangitis)
- Pancreatitis
- Liver damage
Treatment :-
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to remove the stones
- Surgery if ERCP is not successful
- Medications to dissolve stones (less common)
Prevention Tips
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a balanced diet high in fiber and low in fat
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid rapid weight loss
Here Are
HPB SURGERY F&Q's
Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that stores bile. They can be made of cholesterol or bilirubin.
Gallstones form when the bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin, or when the gallbladder doesn’t empty properly. Factors such as obesity, high-fat diets, and certain medical conditions can contribute to their formation.
Common symptoms include sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, pain between the shoulder blades, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes jaundice.
Gallstones are usually diagnosed through imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI. Blood tests may also be used to check for signs of infection or inflammation.
Bile duct stones are gallstones that have moved from the gallbladder into the bile ducts. They can block the flow of bile, leading to pain and infection.
While gallstones form in the gallbladder, bile duct stones are located in the bile ducts. Both can cause similar symptoms, but bile duct stones can also lead to more severe complications such as infections or pancreatitis.