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Because some gallstones never cause pain most people that have gallstones don’t know they have them. At even if a physician determines that a patient has gallstones, if no symptoms are present, there’s usually no need for treatment. However, if treatment is needed and surgery (i.e., gallbladder removal) is the best option, the body soon adjusts itself to not having this organ because the body functions properly without it.

Two main types of gallstones, cholesterol and pigmented, can be found in the body. People tend to have one or the other type of gallstone, they usually do not have both types present. Studies have shown that the country in which the patient resides can contribute to the type of gallstone in the body. People from the U.S., Australia, England, Germany, South Africa, and Sweden tend to develop cholesterol stones whereas people from less industrialized countries more often develop pigmented gallstones.

Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand all the way up to the size of a golf ball. The gallbladder is capable of creating any combination of gallstone sizes: one large gallstone, several hundred small stones, etc. Smaller gallstones can move around over time; larger gallstones tend to stay in their original location. Some believe that once gallstone has developed, the chances of other gallstone development is greatly increased.

Cholesterol stones are a yellow-green color and are comprised of hardened cholesterol. Medical studies suggest that cholesterol stones form when the bile contains either too much bilirubin (a brownish yellow substance removed from the body through the stool), too much cholesterol, or insufficient bile salts. They can also form when the gallbladder doesn’t empty itself as regularly as it should. More than 80% of cholesterol gallstones are found in people living in developed countries. Smaller stones can travel through the digestive system and lodge themselves into the ducts that join the pancreas. That’s why cholesterol stones are sometimes associated with pancreatitis.

The least prevalent type of gallstones found in Americans are pigment stones. These stones tend to be brown or black and are made up of calcium and bilirubin. Pigment stones can develop when too much bilirubin is produced. People with cirrhosis of the liver or hereditary blood diseases are at higher risks for developing pigment stones because their bodies tend to shed itself of red blood cells too quickly, which in turn leads to an large buildup of bilirubin.

Sometimes gallstones absorb so much calcium that they become calcified, or hardened. Calcified stones can sometimes been seen on a regular x-ray. Because calcified stones are so dense, they’re not good candidates for gallstone dissolving procedures. Instead, if these stones are causing pain or discomfort, gallbladder surgery is usually recommended.

In some instances the presence of biliary sludge indicates a predisposition to developing gallstones. Biliary sludge is a thick protein-filled substance found in the gallbladder. It can itself sometimes cause abdominal pain when the sludge blocks the ducts going into the intestine. Biliary sludge can also cause inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder.

Gallstone treatment varies depending on the size, location, and symptoms associated with the stones. People who experience pain only after eating meals high in fat can minimize their symptoms by adopting a low fat diet. People who only have occasional symptoms like constipation can control this with medicine. However, if the patient experiences moderate to severe abdominal pain after each meal (regardless of the fat content) and has been diagnosed with having gallstones, the doctor may recommend gallbladder surgery. Patients that undergo laparoscopic surgery tend to have a shorter hospital and recovery time. With advances in medicine, many patients that undergo surgery in the morning are now able to go home that same day.

Tags: Health & Fitness //