Gallbladder Sludge Symptoms
Gallbladder sludge, also known as microlithiasis, occurs when cholesterol and bilirubin, present in bile, crystallize into small, hardened particles. This thick, pasty substance can sometimes be detected before the development of gallstones.
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Absence of Symptoms
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Individuals with gallbladder sludge frequently experience no symptoms at all, and the condition is discovered during screening for other problems. In this case, treatment may not be required, only monitoring.
Complications
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This condition may resolve itself, wax and wane, or worsen until gallstones form. Gallbladder sludge can also lead to inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas and produce a set of recognizable, associated symptoms.
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Associated Symptoms
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Upper abdominal pain is common, in some cases radiating to the right side of or the middle of the shoulder blades. Fever, abdominal tenderness or presence of a mass on the right side, nausea or vomiting, and jaundice may occur.
Pain Severity
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A range of pain severity may be experienced, depending on the course of this condition. The onset of pain may be sudden, becoming quite severe in a short period of time, or increase gradually.
Treatment options
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Depending on symptom severity and presentation, gallbladder removal may be necessary. In some cases, those who are unable to tolerate surgery may receive medication to dissolve the crystallized material.
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References
- American Family Physician; Management of Gallstones and Their Complications; Aijaz Ahmed, Ramsey C. Cheung, and Emmet B. Keeffe; March 2000
- Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology; Biliary Sludge: When Should It Not be Ignored?; Rajeev Jain; 2004
- Annals of Internal Medicine; Biliary sludge; Cynthia W. Ko, John H. Sekijima, Sum P. Lee; Feb. 16, 1999
