gallstone /gall·stone/ (gawl´stōn) biliary calculus; a calculus formed in the gallbladder or bile duct.
gallstone.
gallstone
Patient discussion about Gallbladder stones.
gall·stone (gôl st n )n. A concretion in the gallbladder or in a bile duct, composed chiefly of cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments. Also called biliary calculus, cholelith. |
gallstone.
gallstone
a stonelike mass that forms in the gallbladder. See cholelithiasis.
gallstone
Gastroenterology A concrement in the gallbladder or the cystic duct Epidemiology 10% of adults have gallstones–GS; ↑ with age; ♀:♂ = 2:1; highest in Scandinavia, Chile, Native Americans; ↑ risk with
childbearing, ERT, OCs, obesity, rapid weight loss Types Cholesterol, bilirubin, calcium salts; cholesterol GSs constitute 75% of total in Western nations; up to 80% of the volume is cholesterol; non-cholesterol GSs are either black or brown GSs
Clinical Biliary colic, recurrent upper-quadrant pain; fatty food intolerance, while suggestive, is nonspecific; GSs may be associated with acute cholecystitis which causes severe abdominal pain, N&V, fever, leukocytosis Diagnosis
Ultrasonography, cholescintigraphy, cholecystography Management Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, percutaneous dissolution of gallstones by MTBE–methyl- tert-butyl ether, via a percutaneous transcutaneous catheter, shock-wave lithotripsy.
See Black gallstone, Brown gallstone, Soluble fiber.
Patient discussion about Gallbladder stones.
Q. What is a cholecystectomy and how is it done? My Doctor diagnosed me with gallstones and said I have to have a cholecystectomy surgery. What is this and how is it done?
A. Cholecystectomy is a surgery in which the gallbladder is removed. Don't be alarmed since you can live without your gallbladder. When the gallbladder is gone, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine.
You will probably have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which means a surgeon will make a small slit in your abdomen, then insert a tubelike instrument which has a camera and surgical instruments attached. This is used to take out the gallbladder with the stones inside it.
This procedure causes less pain than open surgery, is less likely to cause complications, and has a faster recovery time. This surgery is performed in an operating room and you will be under general anesthesia. It usually takes 20 minutes to one hour.
You will probably have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which means a surgeon will make a small slit in your abdomen, then insert a tubelike instrument which has a camera and surgical instruments attached. This is used to take out the gallbladder with the stones inside it.
This procedure causes less pain than open surgery, is less likely to cause complications, and has a faster recovery time. This surgery is performed in an operating room and you will be under general anesthesia. It usually takes 20 minutes to one hour.
Q. What arethe pros and cons of removingmy gallbladder due to gallstones
A. Pro - solves the problem (gallstones usually don't form in the absence of gall bladder
Cons - operation, with its complications: anesthesia, incision, hernia in the incision, infection etc.
Usually there are no chronic consequences for the absence of gallbladder.
However, this is only general advice - if you have any questions regarding this subject, you should consult a doctor (e.g. general surgeon).
You may read more here:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/002930.htm
Read more or ask a question about Gallbladder stonesCons - operation, with its complications: anesthesia, incision, hernia in the incision, infection etc.
Usually there are no chronic consequences for the absence of gallbladder.
However, this is only general advice - if you have any questions regarding this subject, you should consult a doctor (e.g. general surgeon).
You may read more here:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/002930.htm
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