Gallstones form when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. Gallstones vary in size from very little like sand to a large stones like a golf ball. Gallstones can occur in the gallbladder or in the bile duct. Gallstones can be subdivided into two classes depending on the basis of their contents: cholesterol stones (made primarily of hardened cholesterol) or pigment stones (made of billirubin).

Gallstones can block the normal flow of bile in case they lodge in any of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine.

Among the causes of gallstones formation may be: family history, overweight, hormone therapy. Losing weight very quickly sometimes produces them, also. Excess estrogen hormone during pregnancy may result in gallstones formation.

The symptoms of gallstones usually occur when gallstones keep blocking a bile duct. This condition produces pain attack in the right upper abdomen, pain in the back between the shoulder blades, pain under the right shoulder, nausea and vomiting, yellowish color of the skin.

Diagnosis can be made by simple ultrasound test. Sometimes additional test may be provided.

The only treatment for gallstones that cause pain attacks is surgery. Gallbladder removal is made today by minimal invasive laparoscopic surgery. Patients can go home the same or next day and will probably be able to go back to work in a week or two.

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