Biliary Colic

Biliary colic is a type of pain that occurs in the upper right part of the belly due to problems with the gallbladder, an organ that helps digest fats. This pain happens when a gallstone temporarily blocks the flow of bile, a digestive fluid, causing pressure and discomfort. The pain often comes on suddenly and can last from a few minutes to several hours. It may be triggered by eating fatty or large meals. People with biliary colic might also feel nausea or vomiting during an episode. This condition affects the digestive system and can impact daily activities due to the intense pain.

Biliary colic is characterized by episodic, severe, and steady pain in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium caused by transient obstruction of the cystic duct by gallstones. The core pathology involves mechanical blockage leading to increased intraluminal pressure within the gallbladder, resulting in visceral pain mediated by stretch receptors. It is most commonly caused by cholesterol or pigment cholelithiasis. The pain typically occurs after fatty meals due to gallbladder contraction against the obstruction. Although the obstruction is temporary and resolves spontaneously, biliary colic is a major clinical indicator of symptomatic gallstone disease and can precede complications such as acute cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis. Diagnosis and management focus on identifying the presence of gallstones and preventing progression to inflammation or infection.