Gallstones and Biliary System
Gallstones hard lumps. That form in the gallbladder. A small organ beneath the liver that stores bile, which the liver produces to help digest fats. Gallstones can divide into two main types:
- Cholesterol stones: The most common type, caused by high cholesterol in bile.
- Pigment stones: Caused by high levels of bilirubin in bile. Often found in patients with hemorrhage or cirrhosis.
Causes and risk factors of gallstones
- High cholesterol: Having high cholesterol in your bile can lead to cholesterol stones.
- Obesity: Increases the risk of kidney stones
- Rapid weight loss: May cause the body to produce more cholesterol.
- Age and gender: Women and older adults are at higher risk.
- Genetics: If you have a family history of gallstones, you may be at increased risk.
Gallstone symptoms
Cause any symptoms (silent gallstones), but if they do, they may include:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen, epigastric region, or mid-abdomen, which may radiate to the right shoulder or mid-back.
- Bloating, gas, and gas, usually after eating, especially dinner, often at night, sometimes severe, requiring sitting with the body bent for more than 20 minutes or hours.
- Nausea, vomiting
- Yellow body, yellow eyes (jaundice), หากคุณสนใจเล่นพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด สามารถสมัครสมาชิก UFABET ได้ที่นี่ พร้อมรับโปรโมชั่นพิเศษสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ dark urine, pale stools, hepatitis, if gallstones block the bile duct.
- Fever, chills, abdominal pain if infected
Complications
- Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Bile duct obstruction: May migrate and block the bile duct, causing jaundice or pancreatitis.
- Pancreatitis: Caused by gallstones blocking the common duct between the bile duct and pancreatic duct.
Diagnosis
- Ultrasound: This is the main method of detecting gallstones.
- CT scan or MRI: In some cases, it may be used to investigate further details, such as bile duct stones, inflammation separated from other diseases.
- Bile duct stone screening is found in 10-15% of cases together with gallstones, such as blood test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRCP) scan, intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
- Blood tests: To check your liver function and check for infections.
Treatment
- Cholecystectomy: This is the main treatment for symptomatic gallstones and can be performed either openly or laparoscopically.
- Medication: In some cases, medication may be used to dissolve the stones, but it takes a long time and there is a chance of recurrence.
- Endoscopic Cholangiography (ERCP): Used in cases of gallstone obstruction of the bile duct or for diagnosis and treatment of other bile duct diseases.
Protection
- Keep your weight within normal limits.
- Avoid rapid weight loss
- Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.
- Annual upper abdominal ultrasound examination
- Observe symptoms of pain in the epigastric region or upper right quadrant, bloating and fullness after meals, excessive gas, and abnormal yellowing of the body and eyes.