An episode of nausea and episodic abdominal pain that has been present for several months, especially after a fatty meal, brings a 52-year-old postmenopausal woman to the physician's office for evaluation. She does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illegal substances, and she has no history of diseases. 33 kg/m² is her BMI. Upon physical examination, the abdomen is soft and non-tender, and the bowel sounds normally. It has an 8 centimeter liver span. Murphy's sign is negative. While an abdominal ultrasound reveals a small, non-obstructing gallstone, an abdominal x-ray shows no calcifications. The patient prefers nonoperative management. Which of the following would best treat this patient's condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The most typical kind of gallstones are cholesterol stones. They are predominantly made of crystals of cholesterol monohydrate, while they may also contain small amounts of mucin, bilirubin, and calcium salts. In order to avoid the production of stones, bile acids and phospholipids normally solubilize the cholesterol. Bile can become oversaturated with cholesterol and solidify as cholesterol gallstones if bile acids and phospholipid levels are low. Ageing, obesity, high bile salt loss (such as terminal ileum illness), and female sex are all risk factors for stone formation. 
The preferred course of treatment for symptomatic gallstones is cholecystectomy. However, patients who refuse surgery or who have a high surgical risk have the alternative of receiving medicinal treatment. Ursodeoxycholic acid, for example, raises biliary bile acid concentration while decreasing cholesterol production. Gallstone dissolving is aided by this improvement in cholesterol solubility. There is a significant probability of gallstone recurrence even though patients with modest symptoms and tiny stones respond well to medical therapy.

An Episode of Nausea and Episodic Abdominal Pain That Has