Gallstone disease

Abstract

Gallstones are common, with an overall UK prevalence of approximately 20%. However, despite being so prevalent, only 20% of people with gallstones will experience biliary colic or complications such as cholecystitis, pancreatitis or cholangitis. The definitive treatment of gallstones is surgical removal of the gallbladder and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the most common abdominal surgical procedure performed in the UK, with around 60 000 operations annually. It is important for GPs to be aware of the ways in which gallstones and their complications can present in primary care and be able to distinguish between patients who need urgent surgical admission for intervention and those who may be referred more routinely via the outpatient setting.