Bile is made by the liver, and stored in the gallbladder. The gallbladder pushes bile into the intestine through the bile duct. In the intestine, the bile helps digest food.

Gallstones start to form when cholesterol, calcium and phosphate crystallize in the bile. These crystals continue to grow to form stones. Gallstones can become large enough to obstruct the bile duct. Once the bile duct is obstructed, the gallbladder becomes swollen and inflamed, causing abdominal pain. This condition is called gallbladder disease.

Gallstones can cause three types of gallbladder disease:

• Cholelithiasis:
• The presence of gallstones within the cystic duct (the duct that enters the gallbladder)
• Choledocholithiasis:
• A condition where a gallstone has become lodged in the bile duct
• Cholecystitis:
• Inflammation of the gallbladder secondary to chronic gallstones