The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It stores a digestive juice called bile. Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that occasionally form in the gallbladder. The condition of having gallstones is known as cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that about 90 percent of gallstones do not cause any symptoms, and symptoms may take 8 years to develop.
Biliary Pain
Biliary pain or colic is the most common effect of gallstones. The gallstones move up and block the bile ducts, which are tubular structures that carry bile to the intestines. This blockage creates pressure in the gallbladder and leads to sudden symptoms of pain, especially after eating fatty food. This sudden onset of pain is called gallbladder attack and is characterized by constant pain in the right upper abdomen that increases rapidly and may last for several hours. Pain may also be felt in the upper back and under the right shoulder. Although signs of this attack disappear once the gallstones move from the bile duct, it is important to see a doctor to avoid future complications.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse recommends immediate medical attention to any patient with fever, chills, pain that lasts more than 5 hours or a yellowish color to the skin or whites of the eyes.
Gastric Disturbances
Gastric disturbances such as nausea and vomiting are commonly associated with gallstones. The blockage of the bile duct by gallstones prevents the bile from entering the intestines, and this affects the digestion of food. Additional signs and symptoms include abdominal fullness and clay-colored stools.
Infections
Most cases of gallstones do not involve infections. However, if the stones remain in the bile duct for a long time, inflammation of the gallbladder and liver may occur. This may eventually develop into serious, life-threatening infections of the liver, pancreas or gallbladder. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, infections develop in about 20 percent of cases, and about 2 to 3 percent of patients with acute cholecystitis develop pus in the gallbladder. Common symptoms of gallbladder infection are fever, abdominal pain that is unusually severe, heart palpitations, rapid breathing and restlessness.
Gallbladder Cancer
Cancer is a rare complication of gallstones; however, a strong association has been found between gallbladder cancer and chronic cholecystitis and inflammation. In fact, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, 80 percent of patients with gallbladder cancer have gallstones. Polyps or abnormal growths are also sometimes detected in patients with gallbladder disease. Although small growths are not dangerous, large ones are considered to be a risk factor for cancer.
