Gallstones are hardened body fluids, such as cholesterol stones, pigment/bilirubin stones, and mixed forms. They can form in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts.
The most common forms:
- gallbladder stones (cholecystolithiasis),
- gallstones (cholelithiasis),
- bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis),
- pigment stones,
- cholesterol stones,
- sand in the gallbladder.
Every fourth woman over 50 suffers from gallstone disease, men get sick less often.
Prevention
Healthy (low-fat) food, normal weight, if necessary, treatment of the underlying disease.
Symptoms
30% patients have complete absence of symptoms of the disease, pain in the right hypochondrium. Severe pain: biliary colic, with the development of jaundice (ikterus): dark urine, light stools, fever, vomiting.
Diagnostics
General examination, ultrasound examination (sonography), blood tests, computed tomography (CT), examination of the bile ducts (BCPG).
Sometimes endoscopy and/or x-rays are needed.
Treatment
- In the absence of complaints, there is no need for treatment.
- For colic: first painkillers and "relaxing" medicines.
- Complaints: removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).
- With stones in the bile ducts (choledocholithiasis): endoscopy (ERCP).
- Only in an exceptional case: medicines (stone-dissolving drugs), crushing.
Surgery: minimally invasive (with a minimum degree of penetration into the body) through laparoscopy, laparoscopic operations, low risk, almost no complications, fast recovery.
Head of the Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen
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