Symptoms of gallstones blocking the gallbladder opening

Gallstones blocking the gallbladder opening may cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice and other symptoms, which are typical manifestations of acute cholecystitis. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid more complications. Treatments include medication, minimally invasive surgery and strict dietary control.

1. Symptoms of gallstones blocking the gallbladder opening

When stones block the opening of the gallbladder, bile cannot be discharged normally. This condition of increased pressure in the gallbladder often manifests as severe colic in the right upper abdomen. This pain usually occurs suddenly and can radiate to the right shoulder or back, especially after eating greasy food. The patient may experience nausea, vomiting, and difficulty eating. If the obstruction lasts for a long time, fever and chills may also occur, indicating secondary infection. Some patients will develop jaundice and yellowing of the skin and eyes due to bile duct obstruction, and their urine will also become darker.

2. Hazards and complications of gallbladder opening obstruction

Blockage of the gallbladder opening caused by gallstones not only causes severe pain, but also increases the risk of gallbladder infection and develops into acute cholecystitis. If not treated in time, the infection may spread to the abdominal cavity, causing gallbladder perforation or peritonitis. Some patients may also experience systemic inflammatory syndrome caused by worsening of the disease, which is life-threatening. Once the above symptoms appear, you need to go to the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible, including blood tests, abdominal color ultrasound or CT to clarify the blockage and the degree of inflammation.

3. Treatment of gallbladder stone blockage

Doctors usually treat symptoms of gallstone blockage by taking the following measures, depending on the severity of the condition:

-Medical treatment: This includes antibiotics (such as amoxicillin + clavulanate potassium) to control infection, analgesics (such as ibuprofen) to relieve pain, and antispasmodics (such as anisodamine) to help relax the gallbladder passage.

-Minimally invasive surgery: For cases of recurrent or acute inflammation, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be used to completely resolve the problem, which is less invasive and has a quick recovery. Another minimally invasive option is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which is used to remove stones in the bile duct.

-Dietary intervention: In the long run, dietary adjustment is very important. High-fat, high-cholesterol foods should be avoided, and more fruits and vegetables rich in dietary fiber should be consumed to reduce the metabolic burden on the gallbladder.

Timely medical treatment is the key to treating gallstones blocking the gallbladder opening. After treatment, patients should maintain a healthy diet and regular lifestyle, and have regular checkups to avoid further damage to the bile duct system.