Gallstones can form when bile contains too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or not enough bile salts. Most are “silent” and discovered incidentally. When a stone gets stuck in the cystic duct or common bile duct, it can cause a gallbladder attack (biliary colic), inflammation (cholecystitis), jaundice, pancreatitis, or infection of the bile ducts.
Typical gallstone pain is sudden, severe, and located in the upper right or upper middle abdomen, often after a fatty meal. Some people never have symptoms.
Call the office if you have recurring upper right abdominal pain, especially after meals, or if you have known gallstones and symptoms are changing or more frequent.
Seek emergency care for severe right upper abdominal pain lasting more than a few hours, fever and chills, jaundice, persistent vomiting, or if you suspect a gallbladder attack that isn’t improving.
Diagnosis is usually made with an ultrasound of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Blood tests help look for infection or blockage of the bile ducts or pancreas.
Silent gallstones often need no treatment. Symptomatic gallstones are usually treated with gallbladder removal (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), which prevents recurrent attacks. Urgent treatment is needed for complications like infection or pancreatitis.
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