What Are Gallstones?

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. They range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.

Types of Gallstones

• Cholesterol gallstones — most common type, yellowish-green in color
• Pigment gallstones — darker, made of bilirubin

Common Symptoms

• Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen
• Pain radiating to the right shoulder or back
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills (if infected)

Treatment

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is the most common and effective treatment. The procedure takes about 1 hour and patients typically go home the same day.