Hepatic colic is one of the most common symptoms of diseases of the liver, gall bladder. In most cases, cholelithiasis manifests itself in this way .
Hepatic colic: causes
Often stones in the gallbladder are not clinically apparent, especially in cases where they are located on its bottom or in the body area. When the stones move to the neck or bile ducts, a severe pain syndrome develops - an attack of hepatic colic.
This violation can be triggered by nervous and emotional factors, as well as excessive physical exertion and shaking during a ride. Overeating, eating fatty spicy food, a large number of spices should also be attributed to provoking conditions.
It should be noted that a violation of the outflow of bile of any etiology leads to the occurrence of hepatic colic. Symptoms of this disorder in this case depend on the degree of spasm and obstruction of the biliary tract. Regardless of the cause, this pathology requires immediate treatment.
How is hepatic colic manifested?
Symptoms of an attack occur in the evening, at night or in the afternoon, often after a diet violation. The pain does not have a clear localization, although, as a rule, it is felt in the zone of the right hypochondrium, radiating to the back, right shoulder, shoulder blade. It focuses below the costal arch, intensifies during inspiration and in a supine position on the left side.
Such unpleasant phenomena are characterized by hepatic colic. Symptoms of impaired bile outflow can also include bloating, nausea and persistent vomiting, which does not bring relief. In some cases, an increase in temperature up to 38 ° C can be observed. Patients have wet skin. Yellowness may occur, which indicates a mechanical obstruction to the outflow of bile. But still, the main manifestation of the disease is hepatic colic. Symptoms of obstruction of the biliary tract also include discoloration of feces and the appearance of dark urine.
The duration of the attack is 2-5 hours, although these boundaries are arbitrary and can fluctuate over a fairly wide range. So, pathological manifestations can persist even for several days, draining the patient.
How to eliminate hepatic colic
If an attack occurs, you should immediately call a doctor. By his arrival, the patient must be reassured, laid on the right side, putting a heating pad on the right hypochondrium, which allows you to relieve the spasm. It is worth noting that this can only be done if the presence of pathologies that can be exacerbated by the use of heat is completely excluded.
To reduce pain, you can take an antispasmodic. If vomiting is observed, it is better to use injectable forms of drugs. The most commonly prescribed medications are No-Shpa, Atropine, Promedol, and Pantopon. To relieve spasm of the biliary tract, Nitroglycerin can be used.
Further therapeutic tactics are determined by the doctor. An outpatient pharmacological treatment is carried out, alternative methods can be used. If necessary, patients periodically undergo abdominal ultrasound. In severe cases, surgical treatment is indicated, especially for calculous cholecystitis.