The most common disease of the gallbladder is the formation of gallstones. In Germany, around 15-20% of adults are affected – although most (60-80%) do not develop any symptoms in the course of their lives.
Gallstones are formed from components of the bile, for example cholesterol or bilirubin. The cause is usually an imbalance in the composition of the bile or impaired function of the gallbladder, for example if it no longer empties completely.
When gallstones cause discomfort, this is often manifested by pain in the right upper abdomen, which can also be cramp-like (so-called colic). Sometimes the pain radiates to the back or shoulder. In some cases, there may also be changes in the stool (lighter) or urine (darker) – this may indicate that a stone is blocking the bile duct.
Stones in the bile duct are a possible complication and should generally be treated.
Treatment options
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