Gallstones are one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
Although most people are asymptomatic, approximately 1 million people in the United States develop symptoms related to their gallstones each year. These symptoms can include mostly right-sided upper abdominal pain and nausea and vomiting, usually after eating fatty foods. These symptoms may become severe enough to affect lifestyle, and in some cases, may cause more significant complications like infection and problems with the liver or pancreas. Fortunately, removing the gallbladder does not have significant long-term effects and patients can expect to resume their usual diet without restrictions. Although some medical treatments are available, none have been shown to be as effective as surgery.