User:Mr. Ibrahem/Gallstone
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gallstone is a stone formed within the gallbladder out of bile components.[2] The term cholelithiasis may refer to the presence of gallstones or to any disease caused by gallstones.[5] Most people with gallstones (about 80%) never have symptoms.[2][3] However, if a gallstone blocks the bile duct, a cramp-like pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, known as biliary colic (gallbladder attack) can result.[4] This happens in 1–4% of those with gallstones each year.[4] Complications of gallstones may include inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), jaundice, and infection of a bile duct (cholangitis).[4][6] Symptoms of these complications may include pain of more than five hours duration, fever, yellowish skin, vomiting, dark urine, and pale stools.[2]
Gallstone | |
---|---|
Other names | Gallstone disease, cholelith, cholecystolithiasis (gallstone in the gallbladder), choledocholithiasis (gallstone in a bile duct)[1] |
Gallstones typically form in the gallbladder and may result in symptoms if they block the biliary system. | |
Pronunciation |
|
Specialty | General surgery |
Symptoms | None, crampy pain in the right upper abdomen[2][3][4] |
Complications | Inflammation of the gallbladder, inflammation of the pancreas, liver inflammation[2][4] |
Usual onset | After 40 years old[2] |
Risk factors | Birth control pills, pregnancy, family history, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, rapid weight loss[2] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, confirmed by ultrasound[2][4] |
Prevention | Healthy weight, diet high in fiber, diet low in simple carbohydrates[2] |
Treatment | Asymptomatic: none[2] Pain: surgery[2] |
Prognosis | Good after surgery[2] |
Frequency | 10–15% of adults (developed world)[4] |
Risk factors for gallstones include birth control pills, pregnancy, a family history of gallstones, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, or rapid weight loss.[2] The bile components that form gallstones include cholesterol, bile salts, and bilirubin.[2] Gallstones formed mainly from cholesterol are termed cholesterol stones, and those mainly from bilirubin are termed pigment stones.[2][3] Gallstones may be suspected based on symptoms.[4] Diagnosis is then typically confirmed by ultrasound.[2] Complications may be detected on blood tests.[2]
The risk of gallstones may be decreased by maintaining a healthy weight with exercise and a healthy diet.[2] If there are no symptoms, treatment is usually not needed.[2] In those who are having gallbladder attacks, surgery to remove the gallbladder is typically recommended.[2] This can be carried out either through several small incisions or through a single larger incision, usually under general anesthesia.[2] In rare cases when surgery is not possible, medication can be used to dissolve the stones or lithotripsy to break them down.[7]
In developed countries, 10–15% of adults have gallstones.[4] Rates in many parts of Africa, however, are as low as 3%.[8] Gallbladder and biliary related diseases occurred in about 104 million people (1.6% of people) in 2013 and they resulted in 106,000 deaths.[9][10] Women more commonly have stones than men and they occur more commonly after the age of 40.[2] Certain ethnic groups have gallstones more often than others.[2] For example, 48% of Native Americans have gallstones.[2] Once the gallbladder is removed, outcomes are generally good.[2]