liver and gallbladder disorders
Gallstones
Symptoms of Gallstones
About 80% of people with gallstones do not have any symptoms for many years, if ever, particularly if the gallstones remain in the gallbladder. Gallstones may cause pain. Pain develops when the stones pass from the gallbladder into the cystic duct, common bile duct, or ampulla of Vater and block the duct. Then the gallbladder swells, causing pain called biliary colic. The pain is felt in the upper abdomen, usually on the right side under the ribs. Sometimes the location is hard to pinpoint, particularly for people with diabetes and older people. The pain typically increases in intensity over 15 minutes to an hour and remains steady for up to 12 hours. The pain is usually severe enough to send people to the emergency department for relief. Once the pain begins to resolve, it does so over 30 to 90 minutes, leaving a dull ache. People often feel nauseated and vomit. Eating a heavy meal can trigger biliary colic whether people eat fatty foods or not. Gallstones do not cause belching or bloating. Although most episodes of biliary colic resolve spontaneously, pain returns in 20 to 40% of people each year, and complications may develop. Between episodes, people feel well. If the blockage persists, the gallbladder becomes inflamed (a condition called acute Symptoms ). When the gallbladder is inflamed, bacteria flourish, and infection may develop. The inflammation usually causes fever. Blockage of the common bile duct or the ampulla of Vater is more serious than blockage of the cystic duct. Blockage of a bile duct can cause the ducts to widen (dilate). It can also cause fever, chills, and Jaundice in Adults (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes). This combination of symptoms indicates that a serious infection called acute cholangitis has developed. Bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and cause serious infections elsewhere in the body ( Stones that block the ampulla of Vater also can block the pancreatic duct, causing inflammation of the pancreas ( Overview of Pancreatitis ), as well as pain. Inflammation of the gallbladder caused by gallstones can erode the gallbladder wall, sometimes resulting in a hole (perforation). Perforation results in leakage of the gallbladder contents throughout the abdominal cavity, causing severe inflammation (peritonitis). A large gallstone that enters the small intestine can cause intestinal blockage, called a gallstone ileus. This rare complication is more likely to occur in older people. Gallstones do not cause belching and bloating. About 80% of gallstones cause no symptoms or other problems. 