Gallstones are solid crystal deposits which usually form in the gallbladder, a small bag-like organ situated beneath the liver in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, normally designated for the storage of bile. Their presence causes irritation and inflammation to the lining of the gallbladder, and the stones can also migrate from the gallbladder and this can result in serious, life-threatening emergencies.
Common symptoms of gallstones include abdominal pain (sometimes very severe), often after meals or food containing fat, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Serious complications of gallstones include cholecystitis, biliary colic, jaundice, cholangitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, bowel obstruction and rarely cancer. It is therefore recommended that once diagnosed, the diseased gallbladder containing stones be removed by keyhole surgery.
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