Biliary colic: emergency care, symptoms, causes

In the article, we consider the symptoms of biliary colic and the emergency care that a person will need.

This pathology is characterized by a sharp pain that occurs in the right side and lasts from several minutes to one hour. An attack can occur unexpectedly, and often this happens in the evening. The prognosis for timely treatment and emergency care for biliary colic is usually favorable. I must say that complications are observed only in rare cases.

Causes of Biliary Colic

The main reason for this phenomenon is the presence of stones in the gallbladder. Stones can linger in the duct of the bladder, while there is a violation of the outflow of bile. Often provoking factors of stone shift are greasy, but at the same time dense food.

Compliance with recommendations and emergency care for biliary colic are very important.

Against this background, the production of bile is stimulated, in addition, it outflows into the intestine from the gallbladder, this leads to a shift of stones that get stuck in the duct when leaving the organ. In addition, the causes of pain include:

• various failures and disturbances in the functioning of the biliary tract ;
• unhealthy nutrition over time;
• the presence of infection in the ducts and bladder, which violates the outflow.

Why does pain occur?

The musculature of the duct walls is often contracted, trying to squeeze the stone into the intestine and thus overcome the obstacle that interferes with the normal outflow of bile. Such hard work and leads to a sharp pain in the right hypochondrium. Often, such efforts are actually justified, that is, the stone is in the intestines. But there are cases when it is necessary to remove the stone by other methods up to medical intervention.

It is important to know how to provide emergency care in case of biliary colic attack correctly.

Tumor

In the event that the cause is not a stone at all, but, for example, a tumor of the bladder or its duct, the pain may not leave the patient for a very long time. During movement along the duct, the stone is able to damage the mucous membrane, therefore, even after he overcomes this path, the patient will feel unpleasant sensations on the right side.

It is worth noting that only fifteen percent of patients with stones in this body complain of colic. This suggests that far from every person who suffers from various pathologies of the gastric and intestinal system, it occurs.

Women need more emergency care for symptoms of biliary colic. About it further.

Who is at risk?

The risk category includes:

• women, since they have biliary colic observed twice as often;
• patients older than forty-five years;
• overweight people;
• patients with high blood cholesterol;
• Nordic type, that is, people with fair skin and hair.

In order to promptly provide emergency care for biliary colic, you need to know the main symptoms.

Symptoms of biliary colic

The clinic of this condition is usually the same. What are the main symptoms of biliary colic?

1. The presence of pain in the right side, which are often spasmodic, and can also become burning or intolerant. Their duration is from ten minutes to six hours. Against this background, they can give into the shoulder blade, in the right shoulder or in the back.
2. The onset of pain is usually sudden, more often they occur in the evening or at night, especially after a hearty dinner, which included fatty foods. Also, pain can appear due to severe emotional or physical overload.
3. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting of food. Then vomiting continues with a mixture of bile and gastric juice.
4. It is likely that the temperature rises to thirty-nine degrees, but this symptom can quickly disappear, since it is mostly reflex in nature.
5. In the event that colic continues for a whole day, there is the possibility of inflammation of the bile, that is, the development of cholecystitis.
6. Considering that biliary outflow is delayed with colic, its pigments penetrate the blood, and the patient can notice yellow staining of the skin and eye membranes. In this case, the color of the urine will be dark, and the stool, on the contrary, will completely discolor.
7. Against the background of the remaining symptoms, weakness can occur along with anxiety, a bitter taste in the mouth, lack of appetite, bloating, belching and diarrhea.
8. Heart rate may increase along with pressure, while the skin becomes pale.

Often, biliary colic occurs on its own, but sometimes it can serve as a signal for the presence of disorders in the digestive system and the need to consult a doctor.

Emergency care for biliary colic

It is not recommended to try to get rid of an attack of such colic on your own, it is best to get professional emergency care. So, how can you help yourself until the moment the ambulance arrives:

1. It is necessary to unfasten tight clothing, after which lie on your right side and try to completely relax. This is where emergency care begins. How to remove the symptoms of biliary colic? This is interesting to many.
2. At this time, it is necessary to exclude food intake. In the event that a person is thirsty, it is better to try to quench it with ordinary water. But you should not drink coffee or tea, since such drinks can provoke the production of bile, and this will only intensify the pain syndrome.
3. You should not take strong pain medication without the recommendation of a doctor, in extreme cases, you can take no more than one pill "No-shpa."
4. Do not use a heating pad, as the pain is intensified due to the reduction of ducts.

But emergency care for biliary colic is not a cure.

Therapeutic measures

After a series of diagnostic procedures, patients are usually prescribed the following treatment:

1. It is necessary to observe a dietary table 5A, and the first day requires a complete rejection of food.
2. Treatment with antispasmodics, which eliminate spasms of the duct muscles. For this, “No-shpa” is prescribed intramuscularly, then it can be taken in tablets up to four times a day, 80 milligrams each. Also, intramuscularly prescribed "Platifillin" at 2 milliliters and "Papaverine." Then they switch to Papaverine tablets and take it at 50 grams three times a day.
3. In order to relieve pain, intramuscularly take "Analgin", "Ketorol" or "Baralgin" 5 milliliters. If the pain cramps do not go away, then the patient is prescribed a stronger pain medication.
4. Against the background of increased acidity, the patient is prescribed Omeprazole twice a day at 20 milligrams.
5. If nausea along with vomiting is a concomitant symptom of biliary colic, then the doctor prescribes treatment with Metoclopramide twice a day. First, the drug is prescribed intramuscularly at 2 milliliters, and then in tablets of 10 milligrams. Alternatively, Tserukal can be used in the same way.
6. Often prescribed and "Motilium" twice a day for 40 milligrams. This medication is needed to improve digestive motility.
7. In order to improve the protective function of the body, hepatoprotectors are used mainly in the form of Essential three times a day, two tablets.

Immediately after emergency treatment for biliary colic and pain relief, further treatment is carried out depending on the cause. To alleviate symptoms for a short time, you can use folk remedies at home.

The use of alternative treatment methods at home

So, at home, you can use the following methods of treating biliary colic:

1. When the first signs appear, dissolve a spoonful of apple cider vinegar in 200 milliliters of apple juice. After taking this remedy, the attack subsides, however, not for long, by about a quarter of an hour.
2. For one week in the morning on an empty stomach, it is useful to drink the juice of four lemons, which is diluted with a glass of water. It helps to remove stones.
3. Terpen stones dissolve well - these are the components that are found in large quantities in mint. A spoonful of raw materials is steamed with a glass of boiling water and aged for five minutes. The infusion is filtered and mixed with a spoon of honey. Drink such a remedy twice a day. Drink it between meals for four weeks.
4. Taraxacin, which is contained in dandelion, perfectly improves the outflow of bile from the liver, which helps to improve the work of the gallbladder. Dandelion flowers are poured with boiling water and kept on fire for fifteen minutes. Then remove from heat, and then add a spoonful of mint to the broth. Then the medicine is infused for a quarter of an hour, after which it is filtered. The resulting medicine is drunk during the day.
5. Pears contain pectin, which softens the stones. The peel is cut from the fruit, and the pulp is cut into small slices and boiled for twenty minutes. Doctors recommend eating one plate of warm boiled pears twice a day for two weeks.

First aid for biliary colic at home is often very effective.

Prophylaxis

In order that bile colic does not occur again, you need to consult a doctor in time for the necessary help. It is worth saying that even if there is only slight pain on the right, you should immediately run to the doctor. A specialist should also be contacted when changes in the functioning of organs such as the liver, pancreas or intestines are observed.

After a doctor prescribes a specific treatment system, it is required to strictly follow it, observing all the recommendations of a specialist. A significant role in the appearance of disorders that are associated with the outflow of bile is played by the presence of excess weight, so patients need to go on a diet.

Food

It is extremely important to monitor the correct diet, in no case should not allow a large gap between meals, as this leads to stagnation of bile. It is required to monitor exactly what foods are included in the diet, it is advisable not to eat fatty, spicy or too salty foods. Women who have problems with the functioning of the gallbladder are not recommended to be treated with hormonal contraceptives.

Conclusion

Thus, the main cause of biliary colic is often stones that get stuck in the biliary tract and prevent normal bile outflow. Stones can cause stretching of this organ. Direct factors that trigger the onset of attacks include negative emotions, along with rich and fatty foods, spices, hot spices, spirits and excessive physical exertion. In many women, such attacks often coincide with menstruation or occur after childbirth. In this regard, at the first symptoms, it is required to consult a specialist and carry out the necessary treatment.

We examined the algorithm of emergency care for biliary colic.