What Are the Causes of Biliary Colic?

People with biliary colic experience severe cramping and pain in the abdominal region, usually associated with the creation of a form of gallstones. There are many reasons for the onset of biliary colic, and there is a wide range of treatments from medication to major surgery. A person suffering from biliary colic could be experiencing complications involved with the function of the liver, or there could be hormone-related problems as well.

Identification

Biliary colic is the pain that is caused when gallstones pass from the gall bladder to the small intestines through the biliary ducts. Biliary is the description of where the pain is originating from which is the biliary tubes or bile ducts in the digestive system, and colic is a term commonly used to describe intense pain.

Cholangitis

One of the causes of biliary colic is a condition called cholangitis. This is an inflammation of the bile ducts that is normally caused by gallstones or some other form of bile duct blockage. In some cases, the biliary colic caused by cholangitis could be caused by a more serious condition such as jaundice.

Cholesterol Gallstones

The liver secretes cholesterol into the bile to be used to regulate the intake of cholesterol into the body. Normally, the body is able to use a combination of chemicals to break the cholesterol down and dispose of it through the digestive system, but if the liver secretes too much cholesterol into the bile then the body is unable to break all of the excess cholesterol down which causes the excess cholesterol to cling together and form cholesterol gallstones. These gallstones can eventually get lodged into the bile ducts and cause biliary colic.

Pigment Gallstones

One of the waste products of the break down of old blood cells in the body is called bilirubin. The bilirubin is broken down and put into bile to be discharged by the liver. If there is too much bilirubin being produced, then the excess bilirubin starts to connect with compound such as calcium to create what are known as pigment gallstones. They are called pigment gallstones because the bilirubin will create different colored stones depending on what compound it is combining with. These gallstones get into the bile and cause a blockage in the bile duct which results in biliary colic.

Expert Insight

According to Penn State University, as many as 7 out of every 10 sufferers of biliary colic will experience a relapse of the pain. For this reason, it is often recommended that the blockage be removed surgically to prevent and further pain from developing. In very severe cases it may be necessary to remove the gallbladder.