Gallstones

• Biological Causes:

  •Imbalance of cholesterol and/or bilirubin –crystals form in bile ducts

  •More likely if: female, over 40, obese, family history, suffer from liver disease, excess alcohol
• Impact (symptoms) on their life/ physical/ mental health:

  •abdominal pain

  •jaundice

  •fever

  •Nausea

  •inflammation

  •sweating

  •rapid heartbeat

   

   

   

   

   

  •itchy skin

  •a loss of appetite

  •Diarrhoea

  •Chills/shivering

  •Constipation
• Possible causes (risk factors):

  • obesity

  • cirrhosis

  • age (some reference to being older/over 40)

  • female

  • family history

  • IBS

  • Crohn's disease

  • other relevant examples

  Possible causes (physiological):

  • imbalance of chemicals inside gall bladder

  • e.g. high levels of cholesterol

  • e.g. high levels of breakdown products such as bilirubin

  • small crystals develop (in fluid / bile)

  • crystals grow bigger
• Reducing fat intake


  • Relatively easy to do (e.g. eat less fats/ consume healthier foods)
  • Considered largely ineffective
• Medication to dissolve stones


  • No additional interventions (surgery) so no recovery time etc.
  • Takes a long time (2 years on average)
  • Rarely used as not considered effective
• Lithotripsy


  • Non-invasive
  • Can still be pain passing the fragments
  • Not available in many centres
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy


  • General anesthetic but recovery time quite short
  • Gall bladder also removed so no recurrence
  • May not be possible if patient is very overweight