biliary colic is the most common symptom of gallstones but it is usually a self-limiting symptom. there are however more serious complications of gallstones. cholecystitis cholecystitis means inflammation of the gallbladder. like biliary colic it too is caused by sudden obstruction of the ducts by a gallstone usually the cystic duct. with cholecystitis there is constant pain in the right upper abdomen. inflammation extends through the wall of the gallbladder and the right upper abdomen becomes particularly tender when it is pushed or even tapped. unlike with biliary colic however it is painful to move. people with cholecystitis usually lie still. there is fever and the white blood cell count is elevated both signs of inflammation. cholecystitis usually is treated with antibiotics and most episodes will resolve over several days. cholangitis cholangitis is a condition in which bile in the common hepatic and intrahepatic ducts becomes infected. like cholecystitis the infection spreads through the ducts from the intestine after the ducts become obstructed by a gallstone. patients with cholangitis are very sick with a high fever and elevated white blood cell counts. gangrene gangrene of the gallbladder is a condition in which the inflammation of cholecystitis cuts off the supply of blood to the gallbladder. without blood the tissues forming the wall of the gallbladder die and this makes the wall very weak. the weakness combined with infection often leads to rupture of the gallbladder. the infection then may spread throughout the abdomen though often the rupture is confined to a small area around the gallbladder (a confined perforation). jaundice jaundice is a condition in which bilirubin accumulates in the body. a build-up of bilirubin in the body turns the skin and whites of the eye (sclera) yellow. jaundice occurs when there is prolonged obstruction of the bile ducts. the obstruction may be due to gallstones but it also may be due to many other causes of obstruction for example tumors of the bile ducts or surrounding tissues. pancreatitis pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. the two most common causes of pancreatitis are alcoholism and gallstones. the pancreas surrounds the common bile duct as the duct enters the intestine. the pancreatic duct that drains the digestive juices from the pancreas joins the common bile duct just before it empties into the intestine. if a gallstone obstructs the common bile duct just after the pancreatic duct joins it flow of pancreatic juice from the pancreas is blocked. this results in inflammation within the pancreas. pancreatitis due to gallstones usually is mild but it may cause serious illness and even death. sepsis sepsis is a condition in which bacteria from any source within the body including the gallbladder or bile ducts get into the blood stream and spread throughout the body. although the bacteria usually remain within the blood they also may spread to distant tissues and lead to the formation of abscesses (localized areas of infection with formation of pus). fistula a fistula is an abnormal tract through which fluid can flow between two hollow organs or between an abscess and a hollow organ or skin. gallstones cause fistulas when the hard gallstone erodes through the soft wall of the gallbladder or bile ducts. most commonly the gallstone erodes into the small intestine stomach or common bile duct. this can leave a tract that allows bile to flow from the gallbladder to the small intestine stomach or common duct. ileus ileus is a condition in which there is an obstruction of flow of digesting food gas and liquid within the intestine. it may be due to a mechanical obstruction for example a tumor within the intestine or a functional obstruction for example inflammation of the intestine or surrounding tissues that prevents the muscle of the intestine from working normally and propelling its contents. cancer cancer of the gallbladder almost always is associated with gallstones but it is not clear which comes first that is whether the gallstones precede the cancer and therefore could potentially be the cause of the cancer. moreover cancer of the gallbladder arises in less than 1% of people with gallstones.
what are the complications of gallstones?