Complications of gallstones

The gallbladder can become inflamed if a gallstone prevents bile from draining properly. The fluid builds up and stretches the gallbladder wall, irritating the lining of the wall. Bacteria can easily grow on the irritated, inflamed lining. The signs of an acute inflammation include persistent, severe pain in the right upper abdomen, fever and chills. The right upper abdomen hurts when touched, and feels tight. The pain radiates into the right shoulder. Inflammation of the gallbladder may be acute or chronic, or clear up on its own and then come back again.

An acute inflammation may lead to further complications, particularly if left untreated. Pus might form inside the gallbladder, the organ could die, or the inflammation may spread to neighboring organs. If the inflammation spreads to the blood and then to the entire body, it is called septicemia. Septicemia has to be treated immediately.

In very rare cases a chronic inflammation may cause what is known as "porcelain gallbladder," with a thickened and calcified gallbladder wall. Then the gallbladder can no longer contract (squeeze out bile) properly. A certain type of porcelain gallbladder with patchy calcifications increases the risk of getting cancer of the gallbladder: It is estimated that 7 out of 100 people with this kind of porcelain gallbladder get gallbladder cancer.

Inflammation of the bile duct also leads to severe pain in the upper abdomen, fever and chills, and sometimes to jaundice too. Like a gallbladder inflammation, it can spread to neighboring organs and lead to complications, some of them severe.

Pancreatitis is a very rare, serious disease. It leads to severe pain in the upper abdomen, as well as nausea, vomiting and fever. It is most commonly caused by bile duct stones. A stone lodged in the common bile duct can block the duct opening that is shared by the gallbladder and pancreas. Then the digestive juices produced in the pancreas are unable to drain, and attack the pancreas itself. Pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening disease, particularly if it is treated too late or not treated properly. But full recovery is usually possible given the right treatment.

Gallstones increase the risk of gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer. These types of cancer are rare, though: It is estimated that 5 out of 1,000 people with gallstones get gallbladder cancer. People with very large gallstones and porcelain gallbladder have a higher risk than people with other types of gallstones. In Germany, a total of about 5,000 people get gallbladder cancer or bile duct cancer each year.