Gallstones (Check if have severe abdominal and/or shoulder pain)
What is it?
A common condition where small stones made of cholesterol that are formed in the gallbladder (the gallbladder stores bile made from the liver and helps to digest fat)
They generally do not cause symptoms [(as a rule, cholesterol polyps exist as multiple lesions and are usually smaller than 10 mm. They are generally asymptomatic (show no symptoms)], however if the gallstone blocks an opening, they can make the gallbladder hot, red, irritated and swollen (cholecystitis) as well as causing bacterial infections.
Gallstones can move out of the gallbladder and also block openings of the pancreas causing hot, red, irritation and swelling thus causing symptoms.
Women are more likely to have this condition than men.
When to have surgery to remove gallbladder and/or gallstones?
Cholecystectomy is recommended for suspicious gallbladder polyps (tumours and cancer), gallstones are present in most gallbladder cancer cases.
Early detection and treatment is required:
Risk factors for cancer include:
Polyp larger than 1 cm
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Presence of a single polyp
Patient older than 50 years
Cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones may be indicated in these patients:
Patients with large gallstones (> 2 cm in diameter)
Patients with nonfunctional or calcified (porcelain) gallbladder observed on imaging studies and who are at a high risk for gallbladder carcinoma (cancer)
Patients with spinal cord injuries or sensory neuropathies affecting the abdomen
Patients with sickle cell anaemia in whom the distinction between painful crisis and cholecystitis may be difficult.
Cause
Person who have recently lost weight via diet or weight loss surgery (a gradual loss is recommended)
Family history
Age: As one gets older one is likely to develop the condition (generally 40 years and older)
And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:
Pain longer than eight hours [cholecystitis – hot, red and swelling of the gallbladder and can lead to tissue destruction of the gallbladder, a hole in the gallbladder (Gangrenous cholecystitis) and/or a collection of pus (pericholecystic abscess) in the gallbladder]
Pain at upper right abdomen moving towards the shoulder?
High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
Jaundice (Yellow skin colour on skin and whites of eyes (jaundice) that can be itchy, pain over liver area and may have urine darker than normal and may have stools appear pale)?
Itchy skin?
Mental confusion?
Other conditions in the gallbladder area:
Biliary dyskinesia-occurs when the sphincter of Oddi (a muscular structure located at the junction where the bile ducts drain into the small intestine) does not function properly, causing bile blockage.
Functional gallbladder disorder: In this disorder, a person has no evidence of gallstones or sphincter of Oddi problems but continues to experience episodes of upper abdominal pain.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Gallstones (Check if have severe abdominal and/or shoulder pain) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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