Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which releases it into the small intestine. When cholesterol and other substances reach levels that cannot remain soluble in bile, solids form into gallstones. They may not cause symptoms, in which case no side effects occur. Gallstones that are symptomatic obstruct pathways in which bile travels, such as the cystic duct from the gallbladder, the hepatic duct from the liver or the common duct the gallbladder shares with the pancreas. Such blockages may pose a serious risk of complications or side effects.
Pain and Inflammation
A gallbladder attack, or cholecystitis, is characterized by steady, severe pain felt in the upper abdomen and thought to be caused by spasms of the cystic duct due to gallstones. The attack may come on suddenly or follow a fatty meal. Other symptoms may include sweating, nausea and vomiting. Discomfort subsides when the stone moves or passes; the American Gastrological Association reports that gallbladder attacks may last from 15 minutes to several hours. Following an initial attack, the risk of subsequent episodes is high, although there may be symptom-free intervals of days, weeks or months. Prolonged cholecystitis may produce pain that shifts from the center to the right upper abdominal area as the gallbladder wall becomes inflamed.
Infection
When gallstones obstruct the flow of bile from the gallbladder, gut bacteria such as E. coli begin growing in trapped fluid, causing secondary infection. Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine, in an article on gallstone complications published in the March 2000 issue of "American Family Physician," listed signs of infection as possibly low-grade fever, chills and pain that lasts more than three hours. Sometimes an abdominal mass is palpable, and there may or may not be compression of the hepatic duct that causes jaundice, or yellowing, of the eyes and skin. Rarely, the liver may form abscesses or the gallbladder may rupture. Signs of shock that require immediate medical attention may include rapid pulse, pale clammy skin, anxiety, confusion and low blood pressure.
Gallstone Pancreatitis
Prolonged blockage of the bile ducts pose risks for severe damage to the gallbladder, liver or pancreas. The National Institutes of Health state that gallstones traveling through the common bile duct are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Gallstone pancreatitis can happen to either sex; however, it is more common in fair-skinned women who are overweight and near the age of 40. Pancreatitis caused by trapped digestive juices can be mild or debilitating. Intense central or left-sided abdominal pain is typically made worse by eating, causing extreme weight loss if the course of the disease lasts for weeks or months. The condition may become chronic. In severe cases, fluid collections, tissue death and infection may lead to heart, lung and kidney failure.
