Cholelithiasis Essay

Cholelithiasis is the formation of gallstones which are concretions that are formed in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder. Treatment of gallstones depends on the stage of disease of patient1. The signs and symptoms include sporadic and unpredictable episodes, pain that is localized to the epigastrium or right hypochondrium, sometimes radiating to the right scapular tip, nausea, and vomiting2. The presence of persistent tachycardia, fever , hypotension, or jaundice necessitates a search for complications, which may include the following: Cholecystitis, Cholangitis, Pancreatitis.
By using the following diagnostic methods, the condition can be identified3. Abdominal radiography (upright and supine), Ultrasonography, Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), Laparoscopic ultrasonography, Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Scintigraphy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). …show more content…
Medical treatments, used individually or in combination, include the following: Oral bile salt therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid), extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy3.
Patients with the following risk factors for complications of gallstones may be offered elective cholecystectomy, even if they have asymptomatic gallstones like Cirrhosis, Portal hypertension, Children, Transplant candidates, Diabetes with minor symptoms.
Surgical interventions to be considered include the following:
• Cholecystectomy –