These stones form from substances found in bile, includingcholesteroland a pigment called bilirubin.
Most symptomatic gallstones will have been present for a number of years.
The gallbladder contracts vigorously against the blockage, causing severe pain in spasms, or sometimes constant pain.
Biliary colicepisodes usually last one to five hours, with mild pain lingering for up to 24 hours.
Theyre especially common after large or fatty meals, particularly if youve been fasting beforehand.
But the most common cause ofcholecystitisis gallstones.
Abdominal pain is the most common system of a gallbladder problem, but you may also have these other symptoms.
In this case, irritation by gallstones causes the gallbladder walls to become swollen and painful.
An episode of inflammation can last for several hours, or even a few days.
Fever is not unusual.
Sometimes, the inflamed gallbladder is invaded by intestinal bacteria and becomes infected.
Suspected episodes ofcholecystitisalways require medical attention, particularly if you have a fever.
This is a potentially life-threatening condition and requires emergency surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Surgery to remove the gallbladderis often successful at resolving biliary pain without gallstones.
Antibiotics are needed to treat a bacterial infection.
Doctors may also need to drain the fluid in the bile duct to determine the cause of blockage.
Antibiotics alone may not be enough to treat abscesses and they may need to be drained.
Porcelain bladders are thought to be associated with a very high risk of cancer and should be removed surgically.
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Gallbladder PolypsThese are growths that protrude from the surface of the inner gallbladder wall.
Some polyps form as a result of inflammation or because of cholesterol deposits in the gallbladder wall.
Others are tumors, which may be cancerous, though about 95 percent ofgallbladder polypsare benign.
Theyre most often discovered during anX-rayorCT scanthats performed to diagnose a different condition, or even during abdominal surgery.
She is a managing editor at the Mayo Clinic and has written extensively for HealthDay.
She lives in Louisville, Kentucky and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and French from Miami University.
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