Cholelithiasis

Gallstone disease - the formation of stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts is a very common pathological condition. Stones consisting of the bile pigment bilirubin, bile acids, cholesterol and calcium salts can be found in the bile ducts and gallbladder in approximately 10% of adults, mainly women who are prone to being overweight or obese. Often stones do not cause any painful manifestations throughout life; This is the so-called carrier stone. Often, however, the stone clogs the bile ducts and damages the walls of the gallbladder and bile ducts, contributing to their inflammation.

The exact causes of gallstone formation are unknown. A connection between cholelithiasis and pregnancy has been noted. Stagnation of bile, for example with biliary dyskinesia, as well as disorders of cholesterol and calcium metabolism predispose to the formation of stones. Inflammation of the gallbladder and bile ducts also contributes to the formation of stones, although the opposite relationships are also possible: damage to the walls of the biliary system by stones leads to inflammation.

The main symptom of cholelithiasis is attacks of sharp pain in the right hypochondrium with a characteristic return to the right shoulder blade, the so-called “hepatic colic”. Gallstone disease is often accompanied by vomiting, chills, and fever; When palpated, the liver is very painful. The duration of an attack of gallstone disease ranges from several hours to several days. After an attack of cholelithiasis, gallstones are sometimes found in the patient’s stool.

The classic manifestation of cholelithiasis is the so-called biliary, or hepatic, colic, associated with jamming of a stone in the neck of the gallbladder or the mouth of a large bile duct. Pain during biliary colic, often extremely severe, is usually localized in the pit of the stomach or in the right hypochondrium and radiates to the right and back. The pain of cholelithiasis occurs an hour or a little later after eating a heavy, especially fatty, meal, often also shortly after going to bed. Often the pain of gallstone disease is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever.

For severe gallstone disease, surgical treatment may be necessary. In recent years, methods for destroying stones have been successfully developed that do not require “major” operations and are based, in particular, on the use of ultrasound or a laser beam. No means have yet been created for the resorption of gall bladder and bile duct stones.

There are no specific measures to prevent gallstone disease. Preventing obesity, following a diet that meets the calorie needs of the body, and limiting the content of animal fats in the diet reduce the risk of developing gallstone disease.