Diseases » Gallstones » Introduction

Gallstones

Gallstones: Introduction

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
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 26 symptoms of Gallstones

Gallstones: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Gallstones:

• Gallbladder inflammation (see Gall bladder symptoms)
• Liver inflammation
• Pancreatitis
• Acute pancreatitis
• Bile duct gallstone (see Gall bladder symptoms)
• more complications...»

Disease Topics Related To Gallstones

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Gallstones:

• Cholesterol stones
• Pigment stones
• Mixed stones
• Gallbladder disease
• Cholecystitis
• more related diseases...»

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
• more tests...»

Read more about tests for Gallstones

Wrongly Diagnosed with Gallstones?

• Misdiagnosis of Gallstones
• Failure to diagnose Gallstones
• Hidden causes of Gallstones (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Gallstones

Causes of Gallstones

• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Biliary tract infections
• Blood disorders
• Sickle cell anemia
• Triosephosphate isomerase 1 - gallstones
• more causes...»

See full list of 29 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
• more treatments...»

See full list of 13 treatments for Gallstones

Latest Treatments for Gallstones

• Analgesics
• Oral dissolution therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Open Cholecystectomy
• more treatments...»

See full list of 17 latest treatments for Gallstones

News Archives for Gallstones

Medical news articles related to Gallstones include:

• Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Gallstones?
• 9/11 Attacks Changed Way Americans Dream
• Health Tip: Recognizing Gallstones
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Videos for Gallstones

See full list of 4 related videos

Patient Surveys for Gallstones

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Gallstones
  Take Survey  View Results

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
• more trials...»

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

Gallstones: Broader Related Topics

• Digestive Diseases
• Chronic digestive diseases
• Biliary disorder
• Gall bladder conditions
• Stones
• more types...»

Types of Gallstones

Types of Gallstones

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

Read more about Types of Gallstones

Stories from Users Related to Gallstones

• Gallstones
• shaking attack with drooling
• Panick Attacks??
• Gallbladder removal and GERD
• attacks after cholecystectomy??
• Could gallstones lead to a possible come back of salmonella infection?
• Gallbladder or hernia or what?
• Gallstones....Does it matter?
• Is my illness Gallbladder disease?
• Frequent attacks
• Can you force a gallbladder to rupture?
• biliary cholanghitis
• Please describe your attack of porphyria
• To anyone who has had their gallbladder out
• After Gallbladder removal
• gallbladder surgery complications
• pregnant and gallstones??
• help now after my thread on gallbladder i'm getting this.
• Gallbladder help
• abdominal attacks

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Gallstones, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

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)

 » Next page: What is Gallstones?

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