Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The principal function of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile, which is a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball and are composed of cholesterol (cholesterol stones), bilirubin (pigment stones), or a combination of both. Cholesterol stones are the most common type, accounting for about 80% of gallstones. Factors that contribute to the formation of gallstones include genetics, obesity, diet, and certain medical conditions.

Gallstones may cause no symptoms and often go undetected. However, if a stone blocks the bile ducts leading to the small intestine, it can lead to a gallbladder attack, which is characterized by pain in the upper right abdomen. Symptoms can include intense abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting. Chronic gallstone complications can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or pancreas (pancreatitis). Treatment depends on the severity and frequency of symptoms and may range from dietary changes to medications that dissolve the stones or surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as cholecystectomy.