We have vast experience in managing gallstones and their complications. As well as having access to on-site imaging, we can give you a fast track to procedures such as ERCP at nearby state-of-the-art hospitals. It’s all part of our determination to give all our patients reassurance, clear guidance and personalised support every step of the way.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the bile, a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. They are more common in people over 40 and affect women twice as often as men.
Asymptomatic gallstones
Many people with gallstones experience no symptoms and are only diagnosed incidentally during scans for other conditions. Only about a third of people with gallstones develop problems.
Uncomplicated gallstone disease
The most common symptom is biliary colic – a sharp pain in the upper abdomen, often triggered by eating fatty foods. Pain occurs when gallstones block the cystic duct or bile duct, causing pressure on the gallbladder. The stone may pass naturally, relieving the pain, or the episode may recur. Most people only experience occasional discomfort, and around 5% develop more serious issues.
If a stone becomes lodged and blocks bile flow, more serious complications can arise, including:
Symptoms include steady, severe upper or mid-abdominal pain, high temperature, shivering, nausea, vomiting and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These complications require urgent investigation and treatment.
Our Gastroenterology team has particular expertise in gallstone management. Diagnosis may involve abdominal scans and blood tests.
Even without a gallbladder, your liver continues to produce bile and most people return to their normal activities quickly. You may need to make some adjustments to your diet, particularly with fatty foods, but life can continue comfortably and normally.