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Gallbladder diseases are diseases involving the gallbladder and is closely linked to biliary disease, with the most common cause being gallstones (cholelithiasis). [1] [2]The gallbladder is designed to aid in the digestion of fats by concentrating and storing the bile made in the liver and transferring it through the biliary tract to the digestive system through bile ducts that connect the ...
[2] [3] Gallstones may be suspected based on symptoms. [4] Diagnosis is then typically confirmed by ultrasound. [2] Complications may be detected using blood tests. [2] The risk of gallstones may be decreased by maintaining a healthy weight with exercise and a healthy diet. [2] If there are no symptoms, treatment is usually not needed. [2]
Stones can cause disease by several mechanisms: [citation needed] Irritation of nearby tissues, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation; Obstruction of an opening or duct, interfering with normal flow and disrupting the function of the organ in question; Predisposition to infection (often due to disruption of normal flow)
Bile duct obstruction, which is usually present in acute cholangitis, is generally due to gallstones. 10–30% of cases, however, are due to other causes such as benign stricturing (narrowing of the bile duct without an underlying tumor), postoperative damage or an altered structure of the bile ducts such as narrowing at the site of an anastomosis (surgical connection), various tumors (cancer ...
It can occur as a complication following biliary trauma (such as cholelithiasis), [2] as an iatrogenic effect or as a result of a penetrating injury. Bronchobilary fistula commonly caused by primary and metastatic tumors, bile duct obstruction secondary to biliary stenosis, cholangiolithiasis, hepatic hydatidosis [1] and trauma.
Jaundice of the skin or eyes is an important physical finding in biliary obstruction. Jaundice and/or clay-colored stool may raise suspicion of choledocholithiasis or even gallstone pancreatitis. [1] If the above symptoms coincide with fever and chills, the diagnosis of ascending cholangitis may also be considered.
Gallstones can get trapped in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly at the connection between the small and large intestines (ileocecal valve). When a gallstone gets trapped, it can lead to an intestinal obstruction, called gallstone ileus, leading to abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal distension. [13]
Known as cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder is commonly caused by obstruction of the duct with gallstones, which is known as cholelithiasis. Blocked bile accumulates, and pressure on the gallbladder wall may lead to the release of substances that cause inflammation, such as phospholipase. There is also the risk of bacterial infection.