Gallstones

About 30% of Belgians have gallstones. But how do you get gallstones and what can you do about them?

Gallstones consist mainly of cholesterol. They are produced in the bile ducts of the liver and are often accumulated in the gallbladder itself. The gallbladder is a small sac located at the base of the liver.

In the gallbladder, the gallstones usually do not cause any complaints. But if they end up in the duct from the gallbladder to the intestine, they often clog this duct. This usually causes extremely painful biliary colic. The pain is then palpable under the right costal margin, but can also radiate to the back or the right shoulder blade. The pain often occurs after eating a high-fat meal because the gallbladder then secretes bile to help digest these fats.

If a gallstone is stuck in the drainage duct, surgical intervention is necessary. If not, complications such as gallbladder inflammation, pancreatitis and jaundice can occur.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024