Biliary colic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Attacks of biliary colic are commonly recurrent (repeating). They often
occur after a fatty meal, as fat intake stimulates the gallbladder to
squeeze its stored bile into the small intestine to help digestion.
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Biliary colic is the term used to describe a type of pain related to the gallbladder that occurs when a gallstone transiently obstructs the cystic duct and the gallbladder contracts.[1] Cholelithiasis refers to the presence of gallstones and cholecystitis
to the inflammation associated with irritation of the viscera secondary
to obstruction of the cystic duct by gallstones. 'Biliary colic'
differs from renal colic in that it relates to the gallbladder, rather
than the kidneys.
Pathophysiologically, gallstone formation occurs from the
precipitation of crystals that aggregate to form macroscopic stones. The
most common form is cholesterol gallstones.[2] Other forms include calcium, bilirubin, pigment and mixed gallstones.[2]
