Complications of Gallstones
Topic Overview
Gallstones may cause complications, including:
- Obstruction of the common bile
duct.
- Inflammation or infection of the gallbladder (acute
cholecystitis).
- Inflammation or infection of the common bile duct
(cholangitis), which can occur when gallstones get stuck in the
common bile duct. Though rare, this can damage the liver or spread infection.
- Inflammation of the pancreas
(pancreatitis).
Overall, about 15% of people with gallstones have them in the common
bile duct. But if you are a young person with gallstones, your chances of
having them in your common bile duct are lower. Your chances of getting
gallstones in your common bile duct increase as you get older. As many as 50%
of elderly people with gallstones have them in the common bile duct.1
Less common complications can include:
- Severe infection with pus filling the gallbladder
(empyema).
- An abnormal connection (fistula) between the gallbladder
and small intestine.
- A large gallstone blocking the small intestine
(gallstone ileus).
- A hole in the gallbladder
(perforation).
- Gallbladder cancer.
Doctors seldom recommend surgery to remove gallstones that are not
causing symptoms if the only purpose is to prevent gallbladder cancer.
References
Citations
- Friedman LS (2010). Diseases of the biliary tract section of Liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. In SJ McPhee, MA Papadakis, eds., 2010 Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 49th ed., pp. 634–641. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology |
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| Last Revised | July 15, 2011 |
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Last Revised:
July 15, 2011
Friedman LS (2010). Diseases of the biliary tract section of Liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. In SJ McPhee, MA Papadakis, eds., 2010 Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 49th ed., pp. 634–641. New York: McGraw-Hill.
