What are gallstones?

• The gallbladder is a pouch-like organ, found under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile, to help with digestion of fats.

• Gallstones, also called cholelithiasis, are small stones, usually containing cholesterol, that can occur anywhere within the biliary system; they most commonly found within the gallbladder.

• In the majority of cases, gallstones do not cause any pain/symptoms.

• If a gallstone gets trapped in the common bile duct it can cause intense upper abdominal pain, which radiates to the right shoulder blade, for up to 5 hours. Gallstones can cause the gallbladder to become inflamed (cholecystitis).

• Gallstones can usually be identified on an ultrasound scan.

• Treatment depends on how the pain affects your daily activities, but sometimes it involves removing the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) with keyhole surgery.

• You're more at risk of gallstones if you're overweight, over 40 and female, however, it is estimated that more than 10% of adults in the UK have gallstones.