Patient Info

GALLSTONES

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped muscular organ that is 3 to 6 inches long, located in the right upper side of the abdomen .
It  stores and concentrates bile – a green colored fluid needed to digest fats.
Gallstones are formed secondary to imbalance in bile composition, or sluggish gallbladder contractions.
One million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones every year.
Gallstones are of 2 types-
1.Cholesterol gallstones account for approximately 80 percent of gallstones in developed countries, including the United States.
3.Pigment stones, composed mainly of bile pigments and other compounds, account for  the rest

RISK FACTORS 

Gender – Gallstones are more common in women.
Ethnicity – Gallstones occur more frequently in Native Americans, Pima Indians, and Chileans.
Family history -Studies of family histories indicate that cholelithiasis runs in certain families.
Pregnancy
Use of estrogen preparations (such as birth control pills)
Obesity
Rapid weight loss (including patients who have surgical weight loss treatments)
Diabetes mellitus
Sickle cell disease
Cirrhosis

SYMPTOMS

Most  people who have gallstones do not have symptoms –NO TREATMENT IS NECESSARY.
When gallstones begin to cause symptoms such as pain, fatty food intolerance,nausea then surgery is considered.
Complications can develop if gallstones migrate and block the common bile duct causing jaundice or infection of the bile ducts that causes pain, chills, and fever. Acute pancreatitis can also occur.

DIAGNOSIS
 .

Gallstones are commonly detecting using ultrasound.
HIDA scan is used to diagnose cholecystitis.

TREATMENT
 

Gallstones that do not cause any symptoms usually do not require treatment.
Cholecystectomy is surgical removal of the gallbladder. Removing the gallbladder generally has little or no effect on digestion.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy uses small instruments /  a small video camera, inserted into the abdomen through three or four small incisions,to remove the gallbladder. Patients may be able to go home the same day as the surgery or may stay in the hospital for one night. Patients are usually able to return to work in one to two weeks.

Gallstone prevention
 
Exercising for at least 30 minutes five days per week to maintain normal body weight.
Eating  three well-balanced meals daily, with each meal containing some fat to ensure gallbladder emptying .
Diet high in fiber, calcium and low in saturated fats.

For more information , please see

      www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
      www.niddk.nih.gov/
      www.cdc.gov/
      www.gastro.org
      www.acg.gi.org