Definition
Biliary colic is a sudden attack of severe pain that arises in the upper middle or right upper abdomen near the rib cage, often radiating to the back or shoulder. It is caused most frequently by a gallstone becoming impacted in the cystic duct – the tube that is connected to the gallbladder. Biliary colic may also occur due to an impacted stone in the common bile duct (CBD) – the duct that empties bile into the intestine. The pain of biliary colic is often excruciating and may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. It may last for a few minutes to several hours and may subside spontaneously or with pain relievers.