Gallstones

About

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ beneath your liver. It stores bile, which helps your body digest fat. Sometimes gallstones (small stones of cholesterol) develop in the gallbladder or nearby bile duct. When this happens, most people have no symptoms but it can lead to biliary colic or other symptoms like pancreatitis and jaundice. Gallstones causing symptoms are usually treated with surgery.

Need to know

Symptoms of gallstones icon plus
Most gallstones are made up of cholesterol but can also form from bile or calcium. They're more common the older you get and affect women more than men. Pregnancy, obesity and rapid weight loss are also risk factors. Possible symptoms of gallstones are:
- biliary colic (severe abdominal pain), caused by your gallbladder squeezing to dislodge a stone
- cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), caused by infection and can lead to pain and fever
- jundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes; darkening of urine)
- acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Other complications include severe infection of the bile duct and bowel obstruction.
Diagnosis icon plus

Your consultant may carry out the Murphy's sign test. Their hand or fingers are placed on the upper right area of your abdomen and you'll be asked to breathe in. If this hurts, it usually means your gallbladder is inflamed.

Blood tests can detect infection, or that your liver may not be working normally ‒ a sign that gallstones have moved into your bile duct.

An ultrasound is the most effective at diagnosing gallstones. Gallstones can also show in routine X-rays, and MRI or CT scans. A type of MRI called MRCP is used to look at the bile ducts to see if the gallstones have moved into your bile duct.

A HIDA scan can be used to look at the function of the gallbladder and bile ducts
Potential treatment options icon plus
Usually, gallstones require treatment only if they've led to symptoms. If your consultant thinks treatment is necessary, they'll discuss your options with you. These may include:
- Medicines. Ursodeoxycholic acid may be prescribed to dissolve smaller stones.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A key-hole surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder. If a stone has moved from your gallbladder to your bile duct, another procedure may be necessary.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). A procedure that can be used to remove gallstones from the bile duct.
- A healthy, balanced diet. If surgery isn't recommended or you want to avoid it.

Our consultants

From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.

Our facilities

From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.

The Princess Grace Hospital

42-52 Nottingham Place

London W1U 5NY

Appointments 0207 908 8001
Enquiries 020 3130 6833
The Wellington Hospital

Wellington Place

London NW8 9LE

Appointments 0207 483 5148
Enquiries 020 3131 7478
London Bridge Hospital

27 Tooley Street

London

SE1 2PR

Appointments and Enquiries 020 7234 2009
Imaging Appointments. 020 7234 2773
Switchboard 020 7407 3100
The Harley Street Clinic

35 Weymouth Street

London

W1G 8BJ

Appointments 020 7034 8181
Enquiries 020 3131 7962
The Lister Hospital

Chelsea Bridge Road

London

SW1W 8RH

Appointments 020 7811 4000
The Portland Hospital

205 - 209 Great Portland Street

London

W1W 5AH

Children's enquiries 020 7390 8020
Maternity enquiries 020 7390 6068
Gynaecology enquiries 020 7390 6200
London Digestive Centre

41 Welbeck Street

London

W1G 8DU

Call 020 3813 9497
Opening hours Monday - Friday: 8am - 8pm
London Digestive Surgery

41 Welbeck Street

London

W1G 8DU

Call 020 3131 5319
Opening hours Monday - Friday: 8am - 8pm
All of our upper GI and colorectal consultant are at our Chiswick clinic on Saturdays
Liver, Bile Duct and Pancreas Unit

42–52 Nottingham Place

London

W1U 5NY