Gallstone disease is the growth of stones in the biliary system, commonly known as pebbles in a river, and includes both gallbladder stones and bile duct stones. According to incomplete statistics, the prevalence of gallstones in the population is 10%, and the three major hazards of gallstones are secondary gallbladder cancer, long-term stasis of bile, and acute infection.
What are gallbladder stones?
Gallbladder stones are stones that occur in the gallbladder, mainly in adults, more in women than men, and the incidence increases with age after 40 years old.
How are gallbladder stones formed? What kinds of stones are there?
The gallbladder is a storage organ for bile. The liver secretes 1000ml of bile every day, which then enters the gallbladder. The gallbladder has the function of storing and concentrating bile, and after eating, the gallbladder releases bile into the duodenum to participate in food digestion.
Gallbladder stones can be divided into cholesterol stones, bile pigment stones, and mixed stones. Cholesterol stones are commonly found in urban dwellers, accounting for about 80% of the population. Therefore, cholesterol stones are also known as “city disease” and “affluenza”. As the quality of life improves, high cholesterol and high fat intake as well as a refined diet can easily lead to cholesterol stones, which can easily get stuck in the bile ducts and cause biliary colic or acute cholecystitis. And gallbladder stones mostly occur in the rural residential population.
Third, the danger of gallbladder stones
The prevalence of gallstones in the population is 10%, and the three major hazards of gallstones are secondary gallbladder cancer, long-term bile stasis and acute infection.
1. The treatment effect of gallbladder cancer is very poor, and the 5-year survival rate is very low.
2. Long-term bile stasis will lead to high bile duct pressure, and long-term bile duct pressure will lead to hepatocyte atrophy, necrosis and acute cholangitis, while acute cholangitis will kill people in 1-2 hours.
3. Acute infection is a bacterial infection caused by stasis. If the bile is discharged smoothly, the bacteria will be discharged smoothly, but if it encounters stasis such as stones, the bacteria will multiply rapidly, leading to acute cholecystitis and acute cholangitis or the worst case – acute purulent cholangitis, which can endanger human life.
Performance of gallbladder stones
1, typical performance: paroxysmal biliary colic or sudden onset of severe right upper abdominal paroxysmal colic, may radiate to the shoulder, scapula or back. It often occurs after a full meal, eating greasy food or during sleep.
2.An enlarged gallbladder can be palpated in the right upper abdomen, accompanied by pressure pain in the right upper abdomen. If secondary infection occurs, there can be obvious pressure pain, muscle tension or rebound pain in the right upper abdomen.
3, anorexia of greasy food is also one of the typical symptoms of gallbladder stones.
4.Atypical manifestation is one of the reasons why it is often misdiagnosed as stomach disease. Atypical manifestations include epigastric discomfort, right upper abdominal distension, belching, hiccups, abdominal distension and discomfort, poor digestion, etc.
V. Often overlooked causes
1.Some patients with gallbladder stones have no obvious physical symptoms;
2. Blinded by atypical symptoms and mistaken for stomach discomfort or other digestive tract symptoms.
Suggestions
1, standardized and regular check-ups, especially for people over 40 years old;
2, adhere to breakfast, can promote part of the bile outflow, reduce the viscosity of the bile stored overnight, reduce the risk of gallstones;
3.Immediately perform cholecystectomy or cholecystectomy in accordance with surgical indications.