Gallstones

Question 1

What are gallstones?

Answer 1

Crystal-like deposits that form in the gallbladder.

Question 2

What are crystal-like deposits that form in the gall bladder called?

Answer 2

gallstones

Question 3

What is the gallbladder?

Answer 3

A small organ under the liver that stores the digestive fluid, bile.

Question 4

What is the small organ under the liver that stores the digestive fluid, bile called?

Answer 4

Gallbladder.

Question 5

When gallstones cause pain, how does this pain occur?

Answer 5

By irritating the gallbladder wall or blocking gallbladder ducts.

Question 6

When gallstones irritate the gallbladder wall or blocking gallbladder ducts, what does this cause?

Answer 6

Infection, inflammation and upper abdominal pain.

Question 7

Where is it possible gallbladder infection can spread to?

Answer 7

The liver or pancreas

Question 8

What can treatment for gallstones range from?

Answer 8

Pain relief to surgery.

Question 9

What system in the body is the gallbladder part of?

Answer 9

The digestive system.

Question 10

Describe the gallbladder

Answer 10

A pear-shaped, sac-like structure approximately 8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide

Question 11

What is the gallbladder attached to?

Answer 11

The lower surface of the liver.

Question 12

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Answer 12

To concentrate, store, and excrete bile.

Question 13

What does bile help in?

Answer 13

The digestion of fat.

Question 14

What are the components making up bile?

Answer 14

Cholesterol, bile salts, and bile pigments (eg: bilirubin).

Question 15

In New Zealand the proportion of people with gallstones might be as high as what?

Answer 15

20%

Question 16

What affects the amount of cholesterol which can be dissolved in bile?

Answer 16

How much bile salt it contains

Question 17

What can cause gallstones to form in the gallbladder?

Answer 17

Too much cholesterol, or too little bile salt.

Question 18

Do most people who experience gallstones, experience any symptoms?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

Where symptoms are present, what are the most common symptoms?

Answer 19

upper abdominal pain

Question 20

Describe the type of pain that occurs with gallstones.

Answer 20

Pain usually occurs in the upper right side of the abdomen, is often severe, and may radiate to the chest, back, or the area between the shoulders.

Question 21

Other than pain, what other symptoms are there of gallstones?

Answer 21

• Indigestion;
• Nausea or vomiting;
• Jaundice (the yellow appearance of skin and the whites of eyes caused by bilirubin build-up in the blood) when gallstones block the passage of bile;
• Light-coloured stools.

Question 22

When infection of the gallbladder is present it is possible to also experience low-grade fever, sweats, and chills?

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

When symptoms occur suddenly, what may the gallstones be known as?

Answer 23

biliary colic

Question 24

What often causes biliary colic?

Answer 24

Eating fatty foods

Question 25

When does biliary colic typically occur?

Answer 25

In the middle of the night

Question 26

How severe may the symptoms of biliary colic be?

Answer 26

So severe that people need to seek immediate medical attention.

Question 27

What is the likelihood of another episode of biliary colic not occurring?

Answer 27

Approximately 30% of all people who experience biliary colic will not experience a further episode. Because of this, the doctor may advise a wait and see approach.

Question 28

If attacks of biliary colic are occasional and mild how may they be managed?

Answer 28

With pain-relieving medications, applying heat to the affected area, resting and taking sips of water. Reducing the amount of fat in the diet and maintaining a healthy body weight may also be beneficial. If attacks are frequent or severe surgery is usually recommended.

Question 29

What is biliary colic also known as?

Answer 29

Gallbladder attack or gallstone attack.

Question 30

What does the pain from biliary colic result from?

Answer 30

A gallstone temporarily blocking the bile duct.

Question 31

How long does biliary colic take to resolve?

Answer 31

Pain usually lasts from one to a few hours

Question 32

If attacks of biliary colic are mild, how may they be managed, other than by taking pain-relieving medications?

Answer 32

By applying heat to the affected areas, resting and taking sips of water.

Question 33

If attacks of biliary colic are mild they may be managed by taking ________________, applying heat to the affected areas, resting and taking sips of water.

Answer 33

taking pain-relieving medications

Question 34

If attacks of biliary colic are mild they may be managed by taking pain relieving medication, ____________ , resting and taking sips of water.

Answer 34

applying heat to the affected areas

Question 35

If attacks of biliary colic are mild they may be managed by taking pain relieving medication, applying heat to the affected areas, ________ and taking sips of water.

Answer 35

resting

Question 36

If attacks of biliary colic are mild they may be managed by taking pain relieving medication, applying heat to the affected areas, resting and ________________.

Answer 36

taking sips of water

Question 37

In addition to taking pain relieving medication, applying heat to the affected areas, resting and taking sips of water what else may be beneficial for biliary colic?

Answer 37

Reducing the amount of fat in the diet and maintaining a healthy body weight

Question 38

In addition to taking pain relieving medication, applying heat to the affected areas, resting and taking sips of water, reducing ______________and maintaining a healthy body weight may be beneficial.

Answer 38

the amount of fat in the diet

Question 39

In addition to taking pain relieving medication, applying heat to the affected areas, resting and taking sips of water, reducing the amount of fat in the diet and _______________ may be beneficial.

Answer 39

maintaining a healthy body weight