what is the medical term for gallstones

What type of doctor should I See for gallstones?

What Kind of Doctor Do I Need?

• Allergist/Immunologist. An allergist/immunologist is a doctor that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of allergies, and disorders of the immune system.
• Anesthesiologist. ...
• Cardiologist. ...
• Dermatologist. ...
• Emergency Medicine. ...
• Endocrinologist. ...
• Family Practitioner. ...
• Gastroenterologist. ...
• Geriatrician. ...
• Gynecologist/Obstetrician. ...

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How do I know if I have gallstones?

• Pain in the upper abdomen and back, especially near the right shoulder blade
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bloating, indigestion, belching, and heartburn

Can gallstones go away on their own?

Smaller gallstones sometimes float out of the gallbladder on their own and are eliminated from the body in feces. Gallstone attacks can also calm down on their own if the bothersome stones shift position within the gallbladder. Even when gallstone symptoms go away on their own, they return within two years in about two of three people.

How dangerous is untreated gallstones?

• Flatulence
• Bloating or having chronic digestive problems after consuming high-fat diets
• Severe and sudden pain in the upper right abdomen.
• Pain that radiates to right shoulder or back (between shoulder blades)
• Nausea and vomitting (mainly from cholecystitis or inflammation of gallbladder)
• High fever and chills

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What is Cholecystolithiasis?

[ kō′lĭ-sĭs′tō-lĭ-thī′ə-sĭs ] n. The presence of one or more gallstones in the gallbladder.

What are the 3 types of gallstones?

Gallstone TypesCholesterol stones. These are usually yellow-green. They're the most common, making up 80% of gallstones.Pigment stones. These are smaller and darker. They're made of bilirubin..

Is cholecystitis and gallstones the same?

Cholecystitis occurs when your gallbladder becomes inflamed. Gallbladder inflammation can be caused by: Gallstones. Most often, cholecystitis is the result of hard particles that develop in your gallbladder (gallstones).

What are the warning signs of gallstones?

SymptomsSudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen.Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone.Back pain between your shoulder blades.Pain in your right shoulder.Nausea or vomiting.

What happens if gallstones are left untreated?

If gallstones lodge in a bile duct and cause a blockage, it eventually results in severe life-threatening complications such as bile duct inflammation and infection, pancreatitis or cholecystitis (an inflammation of gallbladder). In addition, if left untreated, it might increase risk of “gallbladder cancer”.

What is a classic symptom of cholecystitis?

The main symptom of acute cholecystitis is a sudden, sharp pain in the upper right-hand side of your tummy (abdomen). This pain spreads towards your right shoulder. The affected part of the tummy is usually very tender, and breathing deeply can make the pain worse.

What triggers acute cholecystitis?

Acute cholecystitis occurs when bile becomes trapped in the gallbladder. This often happens because a gallstone blocks the cystic duct, the tube through which bile travels into and out of the gallbladder. When a stone blocks this duct, bile builds up, causing irritation and pressure in the gallbladder.

Why is cholecystitis so painful?

Cholecystitis may be: Acute (occur suddenly) – This inflammation often causes severe pain in the mid or right upper abdomen. Pain can also spread between the shoulder blades. In severe cases, the gallbladder may tear or burst and release bile into the abdomen, causing severe pain.

What are the different types of gallstones?

Types of gallstones. Types of gallstones that can form in the gallbladder include: Cholesterol gallstones. The most common type of gallstone, called a cholesterol gallstone, often appears yellow in color. These gallstones are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol, but may contain other components.

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Seek immediate care if you develop signs and symptoms of a serious gallstone complication, such as: Abdominal pain so intense that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position. Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice) High fever with chills.

What causes pain in the pancreas?

Pancreatic juices, which aid in digestion, flow through the pancreatic duct. A gallstone can cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, which can lead to inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Pancreatitis causes intense, constant abdominal pain and usually requires hospitalization. Gallbladder cancer.

What is the fluid in the gallbladder called?

The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile that's released into your small intestine. Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Some people develop just one gallstone, while others develop many gallstones at the same time.

What is the name of the fluid that is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder?

Gallstones. Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in your gallbladder. Bile is a digestive fluid produced in your liver and stored in your gallbladder. When you eat, your gallbladder contracts and empties bile into your small intestine (duodenum).

Why is bile so high in bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a chemical that's produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders. The excess bilirubin contributes to gallstone formation.

What causes pain in the neck of the gallbladder?

A gallstone that becomes lodged in the neck of the gallbladder can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Cholecystitis can cause severe pain and fever.

What are gallstones?

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material, usually made of cholesterol or bilirubin, that form in your gallbladder. Gallstones can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. The gallbladder can make one large gallstone, hundreds of tiny stones, or both small and large stones.

What is it called when you have a gallstone in your right upper abdomen?

This pain is called a gallbladder attack, or biliary colic. If your symptoms continue and they’re left untreated, gallstones can cause serious complications.

How common are gallstones?

Gallstones are very common, affecting 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population, which is almost 25 million people . About a quarter of the nearly 1 million people diagnosed with gallstones each year will need to be treated, usually with surgery. 2

Who is more likely to develop gallstones?

Certain groups of people have a higher risk of developing gallstones than others. 3

What are the two main types of gallstones?

The two main types of gallstones are. cholesterol stones. pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green in color and are made of mostly hardened cholesterol. In some countries, cholesterol stones make up about 75 percent of gallstones. 1. Pigment stones are dark in color and are made of bilirubin.

Where is the gallbladder located?

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile and is located in your upper right abdomen, below your liver. The bile ducts of your biliary tract include the hepatic ducts, common bile duct, and cystic duct. Bile ducts also carry waste and digestive juices from the liver and pancreas to the duodenum.

What is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases?

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

What is the medical term for gallstones?

Cholelithiasis is the medical term for gallstone disease. Gallstones are concretions that form in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder (see the image below). Excised gall bladder opened to show 3 gallstones. Choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of one or more gallstones in the common bile duct.

Where is the gallbladder removed?

A cholecystectomy (koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-me) is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ that sits just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. Your gallbladder collects and stores bile — a digestive fluid produced in your liver.

What causes choledocholithiasis?

what causes Choledocholithiasis? Share on Pinterest When gallstones get stuck in the bile ducts, it causes choledocholithiasis. Gallstones may vary in cause and type. Traditionally, gallstones are divided into three main types. These stones are typically brown pigment stones that form within the bile ducts, such as the common bile duct.

How to treat gallstones?

Alternative therapies, like non-surgical treatments, may provide temporary relief of gallstone symptoms. Alternative approaches to the symptoms of gallbladder disorders include homeopathy, Chinese traditional herbal medicine, and acupuncture. Dietary changes may also help relieve the symptoms of gallstones. Since gallstones seem to develop more often in people who are obese, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and losing weight may help keep gallstones from forming.

Where do gallstones form?

A gallstone is a solid crystal deposit that forms in the gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile salts until they are needed to help digest fatty foods. Gallstones can migrate to other parts of the digestive tract and cause severe pain with life-threatening complications.

What is the most common gallbladder disease?

Gallstones are the most common of all gallbladder problems. They are responsible for 90% of gallbladder and bile duct disease, and are the fifth most common reason for hospitalization of adults in the United States. Gallstones usually develop in adults between the ages of 20 and 50; about 20% of patients with gallstones are over 40. The risk of developing gallstones increases with age-at least 20% of people over 60 have a single large stone or as many as several thousand smaller ones. The gender ratio of gallstone patients changes with age. Young women are between two and six times more likely to develop gallstones than men in the same age group. In patients over 50, the condition affects men and women with equal frequency. Native Americans develop gallstones more often than any other segment of the population; Mexican-Americans have the second-highest incidence of this disease.

What is the chemical structure of gallstones?

Gallstones vary in size and chemical structure. A gallstone may be as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Eighty percent of gallstones are composed of cholesterol. They are formed when the liver produces more cholesterol than digestive juices can liquefy. The remaining 20% of gallstones are composed of calcium and an orange-yellow waste product called bilirubin. Bilirubin gives urine its characteristic color and sometimes causes jaundice.

How many times more likely are women to get gallstones than men?

The gender ratio of gallstone patients changes with age. Young women are between two and six times more likely to develop gallstones than men in the same age group. In patients over 50, the condition affects men and women with equal frequency.

What percentage of gallstones are cholesterol?

Gallstones vary in size and chemical structure. A gallstone may be as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Eighty percent of gallstones are composed of cholesterol. They are formed when the liver produces more cholesterol than digestive juices can liquefy. The remaining 20% of gallstones are composed of calcium ...

What causes jaundice in the gallbladder?

Bilirubin gives urine its characteristic color and sometimes causes jaundice. Gallstones are the most common of all gallbladder problems. They are responsible for 90% of gallbladder and bile duct disease, and are the fifth most common reason for hospitalization of adults in the United States.

What is gallstone?

(gôl′stōn′) n. A small, hard, pathological concretion, composed chiefly of cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments, formed in the gallbladder or in a bile duct. The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

What is the cause of gallstones?

The cause is unknown, although there is evidence of a connection between gallstones and obesity; an excess of cholesterol in the bile appears to be of major importance. Gallstones are most common in women after pregnancy, ...

What is the most common complication of gallstones?

The most common complication of gallstones occurs when one of the stones escapes from the gallbladder and travels along the common bile duct , where it may lodge, blocking the flow of bile to the intestine and causing obstructive jaundice. This condition should be corrected by surgery before the liver is damaged or problems with infection ensue.

What is the best treatment for gallstone pain?

morphineis usually not given to relieve the pain because it increases spasm of the biliary sphincters. meperidine, which does not have this side effect, is the preferred medication for pain. Treatment may also include insertion of a nasogastric tube for the purpose of gastric suction to relieve distention in the upper gastrointestinal tract. ursodiolis a drug that can dissolve gallstones and reduce the need for surgery.

How to treat asymptomatic gallstones?

Treatment. Asymptomatic gallstones are neither removed nor treated. Symptomatic gallstone disease is treated primarily in the U.S. by laparoscopic cholecystectomy which, when successful, avoids prolonged hospitalization. Drug therapy for gallstones may include the use of ursodiol.

What happens when a gallstone is lodged in the intestine?

The most common complication of gallstones occurs when one of the stones escapes from the gallbladder and travels along the common bile duct, where it may lodge, blocking the flow of bile to the intestine and causing obstructive jaundice.

What is the procedure to remove gallbladder?

Laparoscopic surgery is the usual method of treatment and is performed as soon as the patient is able to withstand it. In most cases the gallbladder is removed and a tube is inserted to establish drainage of bile that has been dammed up by the stone. (See also discussion of surgery at gallbladder .)

What is a gallstone?

Gallstones: Stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination.

What are the two types of gallstones?

These symptoms can mimic those of other problems, including heart attack, so accurate diagnosis is important. There are two types of gallstones -- cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones account for about 80 percent of gallstones in N. America and Europe. Pigment stones have a high content of bilirubin (a colored pigment) ...

What happens if you have bile in your ducts?

Bile trapped in these ducts can cause inflammation in the gallbladder, the ducts, or, rarely, the liver. Other ducts open into the common bile duct, including the pancreatic duct, which carries digestive enzymes out of the pancreas. If a gallstone blocks the opening to that duct, digestive enzymes can become trapped in the pancreas ...

Which ducts carry bile out of the liver?

That includes the hepatic ducts, which carry bile out of the liver; the cystic duct, which takes bile to and from the gallbladder; and the common bile duct, which takes bile from the cystic and hepatic ducts to the small intestine.

What is the inflammation of the pancreas called?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of an organ in the abdomen called the pancreas. See Answer

What is the procedure to remove the gallbladder?

Laparoscopic surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most common treatment. The surgery is called cholecystectomy. Open surgery is done if there are obstacles to laparoscopy. The gallbladder is a dispensable organ. Without it, the bile flows directly into the small intestine, instead of being stored in the gallbladder.

Can a gallstone attack cause nausea?

Gallstone attacks often occur after eating a meal, especially a fatty one. Symptoms can include pain for up to several hours in the upper, back, or under the right shoulder together with nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating or indigestion.

What is the term for gallstones formed in the gallbladder?

chol/e/lith/iasis, condition of gallstones. choledoch/o/lith/iasis, condition of stones in the common bile duct. Common sites of cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. More specifically, cholelithiasis refers to gallstones formed in the gallbladder and occurring anywhere in the biliary tract (hepatic duct, cystic duct, and common bile duct), ...

What is the name of the passageway that carries bile from the gallbladder to the duo?

Choledocholithiasis indicates the presence of one or more stones within the common bile duct, which is the passageway that carries bile from the gallbladder and liver to the duodenum.

Is choledoch/o the same as d uct?

So here we see that the combining forms for “gall, bile” and “common bile duct” are similar. I notice that choledoch/o has a “ d ” just like “ d uct” in its definition.

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

Complications

• Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of your abdomen, just beneath your liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile that's released into your small intestine. Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to ...

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