Peer Reviewed
Gastroenterology clinic

Gallstone disease and bile duct disorders

Farzan Fahrtash-bahin, Eric Y Lee
Abstract
An algorithmic approach to early recognition and treatment can minimise the potentially serious complications of gallstone disease.
Key Points
    • Cholelithiasis (one or more gallstones within the gallbladder) is present in 15% of people over 50 years of age, and most patients with an incidental finding of gallstones have no symptoms.
    • Complications of cholelithiasis include: – biliary colic (about 20% of patients) – acute calculous cholecystitis (3% per annum) – choledocholithiasis (one or more gallstones within the bile duct; 1 to 2% per annum) – ascending cholangitis – acute gallstone pancreatitis (0.5% per annum) – gallbladder carcinoma (0.5 to 3% lifetime risk).
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