gallstone
http://www.uptodate.com Salam F Zakko, MD, FACP
Please scroll down for more information, videos,illustrations.
GALLSTONES OVERVIEW — Gallstones are solid, pebble-like collections that form inside the gallbladder. The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, under the liver.
More than one million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones (cholelithiasis) every year, joining about 25 million who already have the disorder. Fortunately, most people with gallstones do not have symptoms and do not require treatment. In some cases, however, gallstones cause pain or other complications and must be treated, usually by removing the stone(s) or the entire gallbladder.
THE GALLBLADDER — The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac-like organ with a muscular wall that is 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) long, located in the right upper side of the abdomen, under the liver. It is connected to the liver and intestine through small tubes called bile ducts.
The primary purpose of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile, a greenish-brown fluid that is produced by the liver. Bile is needed to digest and absorb fatty foods, and to absorb important fat-soluble vitamins.
Between meals, the gallbladder is relaxed and bile flows into the gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated. With meals, fatty foods in the small intestine cause the gallbladder to contract (squeeze) and partially empty into the intestine. A few hours later, the gallbladder relaxes and begins to store bile again.
WHAT ARE GALLSTONES? — Gallstones are collections of solid material that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as tiny specks or as large as the gallbladder itself. The vast majority, however, are smaller than 1 inch (2.5 cm) and are one of two major types, cholesterol or pigment. Gallstone type is important since cholesterol stones are more likely to respond to non-surgical treatments than pigment stones.
●Cholesterol gallstones account for approximately 80 percent of gallstones in developed countries, including the United States.
●Pigment stones account for about 20 percent of gallstones.
GALLSTONES RISK FACTORS — Experts do not know for sure why gallstones develop. However, many people have bile with an abnormally high concentration of cholesterol and/or calcium from which stones may develop. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing gallstones
●Sex – Gallstones are more common in women.
●Age – The risk of gallstones increases with age. The condition is extremely rare in children and becomes progressively more frequent over time, especially after the age of 40 years.
●Family history and genetics – Gallstones are more common in certain families, suggesting that genetics has a role in gallstone development.
●Other factors – Other conditions can increase the risk of developing gallstones, including:
•Pregnancy
•Use of medicines that contain estrogen (such as birth control pills)
•Obesity
•Frequent fasting
•Rapid weight loss (including patients who have surgical weight loss treatments)
•Lack of physical activity
•Diabetes mellitus
•Sickle cell disease (and other conditions associated with rapid destruction of red blood cells, such as in patients with mechanical heart valves)
•Cirrhosis or severe scarring of the liver
•Certain medicines
GALLSTONE SYMPTOMS
Silent gallstones — The majority of people who have gallstones do not have symptoms; their stones remain "silent." Silent gallstones are often found on an ultrasound or CT scan done for other reasons. Silent stones do not need to be treated since the first symptoms of gallstones are usually mild and there are risks involved in removing the gallbladder.
If you have silent gallstones, you should be aware of the initial symptoms of gallstone disease because you may need treatment if you develop symptoms.
Biliary colic — Biliary colic, also known as gallstone pain or biliary pain, is the most common symptom of gallstones. It causes attacks of abdominal pain, often located in the right upper belly just under the lower ribs. You may also feel nausea, and vomiting, and pain in the right shoulder or back.
Biliary colic usually happens when the gallbladder contracts in response to a fatty meal. This compresses the stones, blocking the opening. As the gallbladder relaxes several hours after the meal, the pain subsides. In some people, the pain happens without having eaten anything.
Once you have a first attack of biliary colic, there is a good chance you will have more symptoms in the future. Such recurrent symptoms are usually more severe and occasionally associated with complications.
Complications of gallstones
Acute cholecystitis — Acute cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder. This happens when there is a complete blockage of the gallbladder, caused by a gallstone. Unlike biliary colic, which resolves within a few hours, pain is constant with acute cholecystitis and fever is common.
Acute cholecystitis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment in the hospital. Treatment includes IV fluids, pain medicine, and sometimes, antibiotics. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended during the hospitalization or shortly thereafter. If not treated, acute cholecystitis can lead to gallbladder rupture, a life-threatening condition.
Choledocholithiasis — This complication can develop if one or more gallstones leave the gallbladder and block the area where bile exits. It may lead to:
●Jaundice, which is a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.
●Acute cholangitis, which is an infection of the bile ducts that causes pain, chills, and fever. This requires prompt treatment, usually involving removal of the gallstone with a non-surgical procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP.
●Acute pancreatitis, which is sudden inflammation of the pancreas, leading to severe abdominal pain.
GALLSTONE DIAGNOSIS — There are two parts to diagnosing gallstones: determining if gallstones are present, and determining if gallstones are the cause of symptoms.
Gallstones are usually found using ultrasound, a painless test that uses sound waves to create an image of the gallbladder. An ultrasound is the most sensitive test with which to find gallbladder stones, but gallstones can also be seen on other imaging tests.
Having gallstones does not mean that the gallstones are the cause of your symptoms. Thus, other tests may be recommended if there is doubt about the relationship of the gallstones to your symptoms.
GALLSTONE TREATMENT — There are three general options for people with gallstones; the best option depends upon your individual situation.
●Expectant management: Do nothing, wait and watch.
●Surgical therapy: Remove the gallbladder and stones.
●Non-surgical therapy: Eliminate the stones while preserving the gallbladder.
Surgical treatment
Cholecystectomy — Cholecystectomy is a surgery that removes the gallbladder. It is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. The surgery is done in an operating room after you are given anesthesia.
The gallbladder is an important organ, but you can live without it. Removing the gallbladder does not usually cause serious complications. However, about half of people who have their gallbladder removed develop loose stools, gas, and bloating; in most people these symptoms are mild, do not require treatment, and improve with time.
Surgery may be done through an open incision (cut) in the skin. In most people, the surgery is done using small instruments and a video camera, which are inserted into the abdomen through several small puncture holes. This is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Non-surgical treatments — Nonsurgical treatments are available for some people with gallstones, mainly those who cannot undergo cholecystectomy. These treatments get rid of the gallstones while preserving the gallbladder. The main disadvantage is that the stones can come back over time.
Bile acid pill — A bile acid pill (ursodeoxycholic acid or ursodiol) is a medicine that can dissolve and break down the cholesterol type of gallstones. About two-thirds of people who take it become symptom free within two to three months after starting treatment. However, it may take several years for the stones to disappear completely. The treatment is safe and well tolerated. Some people develop mild, temporary diarrhea.
Because of its slow action, bile acid treatment is not practical in people who are having recurrent gallstone symptoms. Bile acid treatments are most effective for people with small cholesterol stones and a functioning gallbladder, which may be determined by using imaging studies. Even then, it may fail to eliminate the stones in some patients.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy — Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is widely used for kidney stones but has fallen out of favor for the treatment of gallbladder stones. Only a few centers worldwide continue to offer it. It uses shock waves to break gallstones into smaller fragments and "sand," which can then be dissolved more easily with an oral bile acid pill. It is most effective in people who have a normal body weight (not obese), fewer than three stones, and who have good gallbladder function.
The procedure may be uncomfortable, but a sedative can be given to reduce discomfort, and occasionally it may cause attacks of biliary pain as broken stone fragments pass through the bile duct.
Since bile acid therapy is needed to clear the fractured stones and residue, lithotripsy is mostly used to treat cholesterol stones. The success of lithotripsy for gallstones varies, with experienced centers successfully treating 90 to 100 percent of people with one stone and up to 67 percent of people with two or three stones.
Gallstone recurrence — The main disadvantage of the non-surgical treatments is that gallstones can come back, since the gallbladder is still in place. With bile acid treatment, stones come back in about 50 percent of people in the first five years. However, symptoms do not always come back and retreatment is not always needed. After cholecystectomy, gallstones may recur in the bile duct in a small percentage of patients.
Gallstone prevention — To try to prevent gallstones from coming back, it is recommended that you try to stay at a healthy body weight by eating an appropriate number of calories and exercising for at least 30 minutes five days per week. If you are planning a rapid weight-loss program, such as weight loss surgery, your doctor or nurse should monitor you. Bile acid pills may be recommended to prevent gallstones from developing as you lose weight.
Please scroll down for more information, videos,illustrations.
GALLSTONES OVERVIEW — Gallstones are solid, pebble-like collections that form inside the gallbladder. The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, under the liver.
More than one million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones (cholelithiasis) every year, joining about 25 million who already have the disorder. Fortunately, most people with gallstones do not have symptoms and do not require treatment. In some cases, however, gallstones cause pain or other complications and must be treated, usually by removing the stone(s) or the entire gallbladder.
THE GALLBLADDER — The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac-like organ with a muscular wall that is 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) long, located in the right upper side of the abdomen, under the liver. It is connected to the liver and intestine through small tubes called bile ducts.
The primary purpose of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile, a greenish-brown fluid that is produced by the liver. Bile is needed to digest and absorb fatty foods, and to absorb important fat-soluble vitamins.
Between meals, the gallbladder is relaxed and bile flows into the gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated. With meals, fatty foods in the small intestine cause the gallbladder to contract (squeeze) and partially empty into the intestine. A few hours later, the gallbladder relaxes and begins to store bile again.
WHAT ARE GALLSTONES? — Gallstones are collections of solid material that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as tiny specks or as large as the gallbladder itself. The vast majority, however, are smaller than 1 inch (2.5 cm) and are one of two major types, cholesterol or pigment. Gallstone type is important since cholesterol stones are more likely to respond to non-surgical treatments than pigment stones.
●Cholesterol gallstones account for approximately 80 percent of gallstones in developed countries, including the United States.
●Pigment stones account for about 20 percent of gallstones.
GALLSTONES RISK FACTORS — Experts do not know for sure why gallstones develop. However, many people have bile with an abnormally high concentration of cholesterol and/or calcium from which stones may develop. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing gallstones
●Sex – Gallstones are more common in women.
●Age – The risk of gallstones increases with age. The condition is extremely rare in children and becomes progressively more frequent over time, especially after the age of 40 years.
●Family history and genetics – Gallstones are more common in certain families, suggesting that genetics has a role in gallstone development.
●Other factors – Other conditions can increase the risk of developing gallstones, including:
•Pregnancy
•Use of medicines that contain estrogen (such as birth control pills)
•Obesity
•Frequent fasting
•Rapid weight loss (including patients who have surgical weight loss treatments)
•Lack of physical activity
•Diabetes mellitus
•Sickle cell disease (and other conditions associated with rapid destruction of red blood cells, such as in patients with mechanical heart valves)
•Cirrhosis or severe scarring of the liver
•Certain medicines
GALLSTONE SYMPTOMS
Silent gallstones — The majority of people who have gallstones do not have symptoms; their stones remain "silent." Silent gallstones are often found on an ultrasound or CT scan done for other reasons. Silent stones do not need to be treated since the first symptoms of gallstones are usually mild and there are risks involved in removing the gallbladder.
If you have silent gallstones, you should be aware of the initial symptoms of gallstone disease because you may need treatment if you develop symptoms.
Biliary colic — Biliary colic, also known as gallstone pain or biliary pain, is the most common symptom of gallstones. It causes attacks of abdominal pain, often located in the right upper belly just under the lower ribs. You may also feel nausea, and vomiting, and pain in the right shoulder or back.
Biliary colic usually happens when the gallbladder contracts in response to a fatty meal. This compresses the stones, blocking the opening. As the gallbladder relaxes several hours after the meal, the pain subsides. In some people, the pain happens without having eaten anything.
Once you have a first attack of biliary colic, there is a good chance you will have more symptoms in the future. Such recurrent symptoms are usually more severe and occasionally associated with complications.
Complications of gallstones
Acute cholecystitis — Acute cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder. This happens when there is a complete blockage of the gallbladder, caused by a gallstone. Unlike biliary colic, which resolves within a few hours, pain is constant with acute cholecystitis and fever is common.
Acute cholecystitis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment in the hospital. Treatment includes IV fluids, pain medicine, and sometimes, antibiotics. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended during the hospitalization or shortly thereafter. If not treated, acute cholecystitis can lead to gallbladder rupture, a life-threatening condition.
Choledocholithiasis — This complication can develop if one or more gallstones leave the gallbladder and block the area where bile exits. It may lead to:
●Jaundice, which is a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.
●Acute cholangitis, which is an infection of the bile ducts that causes pain, chills, and fever. This requires prompt treatment, usually involving removal of the gallstone with a non-surgical procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP.
●Acute pancreatitis, which is sudden inflammation of the pancreas, leading to severe abdominal pain.
GALLSTONE DIAGNOSIS — There are two parts to diagnosing gallstones: determining if gallstones are present, and determining if gallstones are the cause of symptoms.
Gallstones are usually found using ultrasound, a painless test that uses sound waves to create an image of the gallbladder. An ultrasound is the most sensitive test with which to find gallbladder stones, but gallstones can also be seen on other imaging tests.
Having gallstones does not mean that the gallstones are the cause of your symptoms. Thus, other tests may be recommended if there is doubt about the relationship of the gallstones to your symptoms.
GALLSTONE TREATMENT — There are three general options for people with gallstones; the best option depends upon your individual situation.
●Expectant management: Do nothing, wait and watch.
●Surgical therapy: Remove the gallbladder and stones.
●Non-surgical therapy: Eliminate the stones while preserving the gallbladder.
Surgical treatment
Cholecystectomy — Cholecystectomy is a surgery that removes the gallbladder. It is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. The surgery is done in an operating room after you are given anesthesia.
The gallbladder is an important organ, but you can live without it. Removing the gallbladder does not usually cause serious complications. However, about half of people who have their gallbladder removed develop loose stools, gas, and bloating; in most people these symptoms are mild, do not require treatment, and improve with time.
Surgery may be done through an open incision (cut) in the skin. In most people, the surgery is done using small instruments and a video camera, which are inserted into the abdomen through several small puncture holes. This is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Non-surgical treatments — Nonsurgical treatments are available for some people with gallstones, mainly those who cannot undergo cholecystectomy. These treatments get rid of the gallstones while preserving the gallbladder. The main disadvantage is that the stones can come back over time.
Bile acid pill — A bile acid pill (ursodeoxycholic acid or ursodiol) is a medicine that can dissolve and break down the cholesterol type of gallstones. About two-thirds of people who take it become symptom free within two to three months after starting treatment. However, it may take several years for the stones to disappear completely. The treatment is safe and well tolerated. Some people develop mild, temporary diarrhea.
Because of its slow action, bile acid treatment is not practical in people who are having recurrent gallstone symptoms. Bile acid treatments are most effective for people with small cholesterol stones and a functioning gallbladder, which may be determined by using imaging studies. Even then, it may fail to eliminate the stones in some patients.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy — Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is widely used for kidney stones but has fallen out of favor for the treatment of gallbladder stones. Only a few centers worldwide continue to offer it. It uses shock waves to break gallstones into smaller fragments and "sand," which can then be dissolved more easily with an oral bile acid pill. It is most effective in people who have a normal body weight (not obese), fewer than three stones, and who have good gallbladder function.
The procedure may be uncomfortable, but a sedative can be given to reduce discomfort, and occasionally it may cause attacks of biliary pain as broken stone fragments pass through the bile duct.
Since bile acid therapy is needed to clear the fractured stones and residue, lithotripsy is mostly used to treat cholesterol stones. The success of lithotripsy for gallstones varies, with experienced centers successfully treating 90 to 100 percent of people with one stone and up to 67 percent of people with two or three stones.
Gallstone recurrence — The main disadvantage of the non-surgical treatments is that gallstones can come back, since the gallbladder is still in place. With bile acid treatment, stones come back in about 50 percent of people in the first five years. However, symptoms do not always come back and retreatment is not always needed. After cholecystectomy, gallstones may recur in the bile duct in a small percentage of patients.
Gallstone prevention — To try to prevent gallstones from coming back, it is recommended that you try to stay at a healthy body weight by eating an appropriate number of calories and exercising for at least 30 minutes five days per week. If you are planning a rapid weight-loss program, such as weight loss surgery, your doctor or nurse should monitor you. Bile acid pills may be recommended to prevent gallstones from developing as you lose weight.