Gallstones

Introduction: Gallstones

Certain chemicals form solid deposits in the gall bladder of the bile ducts. These can exist for years without symptoms, but eventually can cause blockages or damage. This can cause extreme digestive symptoms and pain.

Symptoms of Gallstones

• No symptoms - many people don't know they have gallstones. These "silent stones" are often found by accident from x-rays for other medical reasons. These stones may or may not require treatment.
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Indigestion

See full list of 26 symptoms of Gallstones

Medical Textbooks Online about Gallstones

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Gallstones

• Ultrasound exam
• Cholecystogram (cholescintigraphy)
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Blood tests

Read more about tests for Gallstones

Wrongly Diagnosed with Gallstones?

• Misdiagnosis of Gallstones
• Underlying causes of Gallstones (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Causes of Gallstones

• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Biliary tract infections
• Blood disorders
• Sickle cell anemia

Read more about causes of Gallstones

More information about causes of Gallstones:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Gallstones (21 listings)
• Underlying causes of Gallstones
• Gallstones as a complication caused by other conditions
• Gallstones as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Gallstones

Treatments for Gallstones

• Watchful waiting - silent stones do not necessarily require immediate treatment.
• Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - the use of shock waves to break stones up
• Ultrasound shock waves
• Certain medications to dissolve stones
• Cholecystectomy - surgical gall bladder removal

See full list of 13 treatments for Gallstones

Videos for Gallstones

Patient Surveys for Gallstones

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Gallstones
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Prognosis for Gallstones

More about prognosis of Gallstones

Reseach about Gallstones

Visit our research pages for current research about Gallstones treatments.

Clinical Trials for Gallstones

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Gallstones include:

• Small-Incision Open Cholecystectomy or Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• UDCA for Symptomatic Gallstone Disease - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ursodeoxycholic acid
• Lithotripsy for the Treatment of Gallstones - This study has been terminated (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ursodiol
• Effect of Benadryl Sedation During ERCP or EUS - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Benadryl versus Placebo
• Optimal Multimodal Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Gabapentin,S-ketamine,Lidocaine,Droperidol

See full list of 11 Clinical Trials for Gallstones

Statistics for Gallstones

• Medical statistics for Gallstones
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Gallstones
• Death and Mortality statistics for Gallstones
• Society statistics for Gallstones

Types of Gallstones

• Silent gallstones - unknown gallstones without symptoms
• Symptomatic gallstones - causing symptoms
• Cholesterol stones - about 80% of cases
• Pigment stones
• Mixed stones

Read more about Types of Gallstones

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User Interactive Forums

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Article Excerpts about Gallstones

Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid, called bile, is used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube—called a duct—that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.

Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, and bilirubin. Bile salts break up fat, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a brownish color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, it can harden into stones. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NIDDK)

Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Gallstones are clumps of solid material that form in the gallbladder. They may occur as a single, large stone or many small ones. Gallstones are a mixture of compounds, but typically they are mostly cholesterol. (Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)

Gallstones: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones form when substances in the bile, primarily cholesterol and bile pigments, form hard, crystal-like particles. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NWHIC)

Definitions of Gallstones:

Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, usually in the gallbladder (CHOLECYSTOLITHIASIS) or the common bile duct (CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS). - (Source - Diseases Database)