Gallstones

Need to know

• What are the 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
  • jaundice (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.

• How are gallstones diagnosed? 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
  

   

• What are the 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.