More Information
General Surgery News

 

Department of Surgery

 

Highland Hospital Surgery

Conditions We Treat

Highland Hospital Surgeons Who perform Gallbladder Surgery

Thad Boss, M.D.

Vincent D. Chang, M.D.

Joseph A. Johnson M.D.
Gallstones

What are Gallstones?

Gallstones are small hard formations that occur in the gallbladder, a muscular sac underneath your liver that stores bile produced in the liver until it is needed by the intestines (colon) to help digest food.

Normally the chemical balance in the gallbladder keeps gallstones from forming, but If there are high levels of bile salts or cholesterol, stones can form.

Symptoms may occur when the stones block an opening of the gallbladder, or they may be discovered during and x-ray or CT scan being done on the abdomen for another reason.

Symptoms of Gallstones

Symptoms of gallstones often occur suddenly - following fatty meals or during during the night - and can include:

  • a steady increasing pain in the upper abdomen lasting from 30 minutes to several hours
  • a pain in the back between the shoulder blades
  • pain under the right shoulder
  • nausea or vomiting
  • abdominal bloating
  • recurring intolerance of fatty foods
  • burping, gas, and indigestion

If you have the symptoms above and then you begin to have some of the symptoms below, you should call your doctor right away

  • sweating
  • chills
  • low-grade fever
  • yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes
  • clay-colored stools

Many people with gallstones have no symptoms. These stones do not interfere in gallbladder, liver, or pancreas function and do not need treatment.

Learn more about gallstones

Surgical Treatment for Gallstones

A cholecystectomy (surgery to remove the gallbladder) can be performed if necessary.