Biliary Colic

Question 1

Define biliary colic and summarise its aetiology and epidemiology

Answer 1

Defintion:

• Pain resulting from obstruction of the gallbladder or common bile duct, usually by a stone.
• The pain, which is very severe , is usually felt in the upper abdomen (in the midline or to the right) but can also be poorly localized due to visceral nature.

Aetiology:
- Occurs due to contractions of the biliary tree in an attempt to relieve an obstruction (e.g. due to a stone).
- Risk factors of gallstones (5Fs):
    o Fair
    o Fat
    o Fertile
    o Forty 
    o Female

Epidemiology:

• 10-15% of people in the adult Western world will develop gallstones
• Biliary colic is the most common presentation of gallstones disease