Gallstones

What are Gallstones?

Gallstones are small stone-like material that are made up of hardened bile that are found in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac that contains the bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver to break down and digest fats. It is made up of cholesterol, water, fats, bile salts and bilirubin (waste product produced by red blood cells). The gallstones are formed when the cholesterol, bilirubin or bile salts are found to be at high levels.

Gallstones are known to be formed into a large one, usually the size of a golf ball, little stones, or combination of both. There are two types of gallstones:

Cholesterol Stones which are the most common type
Pigment Stones which are formed when there is high level of bilirubin in the system

Mixed stones are possible when both Cholesterol Stones and Pigment Stones are present.

Causes

Gallstones are caused by an imbalance in the bile components. Cholesterol stones are caused by increased levels of cholesterol and bilirubin in the bile, as well as reduce levels of bile salts.

Pigment stones usually occur in people who suffer from Liver Cirrhosis, infection of the biliary tract and genetic blood disorders.
Other reasons that can trigger the formation of gallstones are:

Cholesterol-reducing drugs which lowers the cholesterol levels in the blood but can lead to increased secretion of cholesterol in the bile
Diabetes
Excess oestrogen levels
Fasting
Gender – Women aged between 20 and 60 years are more likely to have gallstones than men
Increasing age (>60 years old)
Obesity that can lead to high levels of cholesterol in the bile
Rapid weight loss

The mere presence of gallstones is believed to initiate the formation of more gallstones.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the size, severity and location of your gallstones. Symptoms may include:

Abdominal bloating
Burping
Clay-coloured stools
Fever and chills
Indigestion
Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Nausea and vomiting
Sharp pain in the upper abdomen

These symptoms usually are more apparent after consuming fatty meals, and at night. Some, however, do not show any signs of having gallstones. These are known as silent stones whereby they do not affect the gallbladder, liver or pancreas function.

Treatment

Treatment of gallstones are very much dependent on your age and general health. Doctors will evaluate and recommend suitable treatment accordingly. The gallstones can be left untreated, or they can be removed using the following methods:

Cholecystectomy, which is the surgical removal of the gallbladder
Medication to dissolve small gallstones
Sphincterotomy where it involves cutting the sphincter (the muscle between the common bile duct and the duodenum) to allow better access to the common bile duct. The bile duct is the tube that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines.

Complications or Related Diseases

Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder (Cholecystitis)
Gangrene of the gallbladder
Infection of the common bile duct (Cholangitis)
Inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis)