Majority of patients with gallstones are asymptomatic and will remain so throughout their lives. Of those with incidental (asymptomatic) gallstones, 15 to 25 percent will become symptomatic after 10 to 15 years of follow-up. Patients who develop symptoms initially report Biliary Colic rather than symptoms associated with the complications of gallstone diseases such as cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and choledocholithiasis.
Once patients have biliary pain from uncomplicated disease, the risk of developing complications is approximately 2 to 3 percent per year and if a complication develops, the risk of additional, often more severe, complications is approximately 30 percent per year Patients with asymptomatic gallstones appear to have a lower risk of complications than those with symptomatic gallstones. Microlithiasis (biliary sludge) can produce Biliary Colic and lead to complications…
