Introduction

Cholelithiasis is the commonest disease affecting the gall bladder, which is a major cause of upper abdominal emergencies^1,2.Various constituents of gall stones include cholesterol, bilirubin, calcium, triglycerides, fatty acids, phospholipids and proteins^3,4. These stones may be classified as cholesterol, pigment and mixed stones⁵ of which mixed stones constitute the majority and pure cholesterol stones being a rarity⁶. Researchers have tried to understand the pathogenesis of stone formation. Super saturation and concentration of bile, crystal nucleation and gall bladder dysmot-ility have been implicated as aetiological factors⁷.

Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol is found to be the most significant factor for formation of cholesterol stones^8,9

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Dr Harpreet Kaur

GMC Amritsar