Gallstones are hard stones that form in the gallbladder, a small pouch under the liver that stores bile. They are common, and most people with gallstones never have symptoms. Gallstones are often found by chance on an ultrasound done for another reason.
Symptoms
The typical symptom is biliary colic: bouts of steady, severe pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen, often after a meal or at night. The pain usually lasts from half an hour to a few hours, and may spread to the back or right shoulder. Ongoing bloating or indigestion on its own is usually not caused by gallstones (see indigestion).
Complications
- Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis): pain that does not settle, with fever
- A stone in the bile duct: yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine and pale stools, sometimes with fever and chills (cholangitis), which needs urgent treatment
- Pancreatitis: severe upper abdominal pain spreading to the back, often with vomiting
Tests
- An ultrasound of the abdomen, which shows most gallbladder stones
- Liver blood tests
- An MRI scan of the bile ducts (MRCP) or an endoscopic ultrasound, if a stone in the bile duct is suspected
Treatment
- Gallstones without symptoms usually need no treatment.
- Gallstones causing pain or complications are usually treated by removing the gallbladder with keyhole surgery, done by a surgeon. Dr Chia can refer you.
- Stones in the bile duct are usually removed with an endoscopic procedure called ERCP.
Most people digest food normally without a gallbladder. A few have looser stools afterwards; see chronic diarrhoea.
General information only. Reviewed by Dr Chia Chung King, 2026-11-07. Book a consultation.