Gallstones are stones that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac that lies below the liver and acts as a storehouse of bile, a greenish-brown liquid produced by the liver. During the digestion of food, the gallbladder contracts and bile passes from it through the bile duct and down into the upper part of the bowel. Gallstones may also pass into the duct through a narrow tube (called a cystic duct). The most common symptom is episodes of moderate or severe pain in the upper abdomen or back.
The most common symptom is episodes of moderate or severe pain in the upper abdomen or back.
Facts About Gallstones
Second Edition 2005
Contents
- What are gallstones?
- Why do gallstones form?
- What symptoms do gallstones cause?
- Are gallstones serious?
- How are gallstones diagnosed?
- Do I need an operation?
- What sort of operation might I need?
- Will an operation cure my symptoms?
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