Clinical Conditions, Complications of Cholelithiasis, and Symptom Scoring Suggestion

Abstract

Gallstones in the gallbladder are asymptomatic in many patients but can cause serious morbid and mortal problems in a significant number of patients. In addition to simple symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, gallstones can cause serious complications such as cholecystitis, cholangitis, bile duct obstruction, pancreatitis, biliary perforation, biliary fistula, and biliary neoplasty. It is important that the problems that may arise due to gallstones are adequately known by physicians and even by patients and their relatives. Being unaware of the possible effects of gallstones can lead to under-treatment and serious complications. Assigning a score to the symptoms and clinical conditions associated with gallstones in proportion to their severity and making accurate comparisons with these scores in clinical trials is important for the use of common language and convenience in studies.