More than one woman has suffered from gallstones after giving birth. But what is this pathology? What are the symptoms, and what treatments can be implemented? Let’s find out together.
Lisa ha given birth for three months and often feels pain in the right side, even if slight. During the follow-up visit, her gynecologist suggested that she do an ultrasound of her gallbladder, telling her that she may have bile sand or a calculation. And that pregnancies can favor the formation of this little sand …
Professor’s comment FRANCESCO PIGNATARO, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Internal and Interventional Ultrasound.
I agree with what Mrs. Lisa’s gynecologist said. There pregnancy is one of the contributing causes that lead to the formation of “biliar sandand “or also gallstones. The “biliary sand” is so defined because it recalls the consistency of that of the sea.
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It is the first step in the concentration of bile: this is a liquid substance that accumulates in the gallbladder and plays an important role in digestion. With the meal, in fact, a contraction of the walls of the biliary sac (gallbladder) occurs and the liquid (bile) is poured into the duodenum (part of the intestine following the stomach). The thickening of the bile which has reasons related to sex (female prevalence), familiarity, obesity and pregnancy, first determines a sedimentation of the bile itself – with the formation of sand – and then gradually to the constitution of real “Pebbles”.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Gallstones
Not always the presence of calculations in gallbladder it is symptomatic and small stones (3-5 mm) are more dangerous, as they can wedge into the main bile duct blocking it and causing bile stasis in the liver or a stop of pancreatic juices, with serious complications such as pancreatitis.
The large calculations, even if they cannot be wedged due to dimensional inconsistency, can, however, give other problems such as achronic inflammation of the gallbladder walls with possible rupture of the same, which is a very serious event that must be surgically treated urgently.
The best way to diagnostic i calculations o la bile sand is to carry out aultrasound, for which it is essential that the patient observe at least 6-8 hours of fasting. There is no age at which to start checking the gallbladder. Hepatocholecystic or hepatobiliary ultrasound is used when there is a tenderness or a sense of heaviness in the right side.
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If calculations and / or biliary sand are found and removal is deemed not indicated, the check must be carried out at least Once a year. Excess estrogen due to pregnancy but also to taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives increase cholesterol levels in the bile and simultaneously reduce the motility of the gallbladder, making it more likely to form stones.
It is not proven that a diet rich in fat can promote the formation of stones, quite the contrary. So there are no particular foods to suggest to avoid the formation of stones. There is the possibility of counteracting the formation and also trying to dissolve the bile sand and some (small) stones with a bile acid therapy, tablets that in some cases allow a clear improvement. Otherwise, if necessary, the solution is the surgical route, now almost always performed in laparoscopy.