Colic

Colic or cholic () is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. Colic pain is usually caused by the obstruction of a smooth muscle passageway in the body (e.g. the small or large intestine, bile duct, or ureter). The obstruction triggers muscular contractions (peristalsis) to force the blockage out of the organ, resulting in episodic pain that fluctuates with the contractions. Although the term primarily refers to pain caused by this mechanism, any pain which occurs in episodes or fluctuates in intensity may be termed colic or colicky pain. Colic episodes can cause extreme pain, nausea, sweating, and vomiting. The blockage of important passageways in the body can lead to severe and potentially fatal complications if not cleared, such as cholecystitis in the case of biliary colic, or in kidney stone disease. Although the action of peristalsis can sometimes clear such blockages without medical intervention, surgery or other medical therapies designed to remove the obstruction may be necessary for treatment of the condition.