Gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a very common procedure. The gallbladder is a small, pouch-like organ in the upper right part of your tummy. It stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fatty foods. You don't need a gallbladder, so surgery to take it out is often recommended if you develop
any problems with it. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually carried out if you have painful gallstones. These are small stones that can form in the gallbladder as a result of an imbalance in the substances that make up bile. Gallstones
often cause no symptoms and you may not realise you have them, but occasionally they can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) or pancreas (acute pancreatitis). This can cause symptoms such as: Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most effective treatment in the vast majority of cases. There are 2 main ways of removing a gallbladder: Keyhole
surgery is used most often because you can leave hospital sooner, recover faster and are left with smaller scars than with an open procedure. Both techniques are performed under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep during the operation and won't feel any pain while it's carried out. Find out more about how gallbladder removal surgery is performed It doesn't usually take long to recover from keyhole surgery to remove your gallbladder. Most people can leave hospital the same day or the next morning. You'll probably be able to return to most of your normal activities within 2 weeks. It takes longer to recover from open surgery. You may need to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days and it could be 6 to 8 weeks before you're feeling back to normal. Find out more about recovering from gallbladder removal surgery Living without a gallbladderYou can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system. You may have been advised to eat a special diet before surgery, but this doesn't need to be continued afterwards. Instead, you should aim to have a generally healthy, balanced diet. Some people experience problems such as bloating or diarrhoea after surgery, although this usually improves within a few weeks. If you notice certain foods or drinks trigger these symptoms, you may wish to avoid them in the future. Find out more about diet after gallbladder surgery Risks of gallbladder removal surgeryGallbladder removal surgery is considered to be a safe procedure, but, like any type of surgery, there's a risk of complications. Possible complications include:
Speak to your surgeon about the benefits and risks of surgery before your operation. Find out more about the complications of gallbladder removal surgery Page last reviewed: 08 December 2021 The gallbladder is an organ that’s found in your abdomen. Its function is to store bile until it’s needed for digestion. When we eat, the gallbladder contracts, or squeezes, to send bile into your digestive tract. Gallbladder disorders such as gallstones are common digestive conditions. It’s estimated that up to 20 million Americans have gallstones. Keep reading to learn more about the gallbladder, its function, and the signs of a gallbladder problem. Your gallbladder is a part of your biliary system, which is made up of your liver, gallbladder, and associated ducts. This system is needed for the production, storage, and secretion of bile. Bile is a thick liquid that’s green, brown, or yellow in color. It’s used to help with the digestion of fats and is produced by your liver. It’s estimated that your liver can produce 27 to 34 fluid ounces of bile each day. During a meal, bile moves from the liver directly to the small intestine. However, when you’re not eating, it has to be stored somewhere until it’s needed. This is where the gallbladder comes in. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile. It typically holds between 1 and 2.7 fluid ounces. When you eat something fatty, the gallbladder contracts to release the bile it has stored into the small intestine. Your gallbladder is located in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen. This is the area on the right side of your abdomen that ranges from the bottom of your sternum (breastbone) to your navel. Inside your body, the gallbladder can be found under the liver. It’s approximately the size of a small pear. One of the most common symptoms of a gallbladder issue is pain. This pain can:
Other indications that you may have a gallbladder issue are digestive symptoms. These can include nausea and vomiting. GallstonesGallstones are hard nuggets of material that can form in your gallbladder. They can be made up of cholesterol or a bile salt called bilirubin and can vary in size. It’s unclear what causes gallstones. However, several risk factors include, but are not limited to:
Many people with gallstones don’t experience symptoms. However, when stones block a duct in the biliary system, pain can occur. When symptomatic gallstones are left untreated, complications can result. CholecystitisCholecystitis is when your gallbladder becomes inflamed. This is often due to a blockage caused by gallstones. Other factors that can cause cholecystitis include tumors, infections, or issues with blood circulation. Some of the most common symptoms of cholecystitis include:
If the condition is left untreated, it can cause potentially serious complications. This may include a tear in the gallbladder or an infection of the bile. Treatment may involve medications to address the inflammation, but in some cases gallbladder removal is necessary. Gallbladder disease without stones (acalculous gallbladder disease)In some cases, you may have cholecystitis without the presence of gallstones. This happens in about 5 percent of people with acute cholecystitis. This condition is often seen in people with injuries to their abdomen or who have spent time in an intensive care unit. It’s believed to be caused by a lack of oxygen to the gallbladder, which causes bile to build up. Gallbladder disease without stones is often treated by removing the gallbladder. CholedocholithiasisCholedocholithiasis happens when a gallstone blocks the common bile duct. This is the duct that takes bile from the liver to the small intestine. When this happens, bile begins to back up in the liver. People with choledocholithiasis usually experience pain in the upper right part of their abdomen. Other symptoms include:
The condition is treated by removing the gallstone from the duct using an endoscope. Removal of the gallbladder may also be recommended to prevent the condition from happening again. Gallbladder polypsGallbladder polyps are growths that project into the inside of the gallbladder. About 95 percent of polyps are benign (noncancerous). Most people with polyps have no symptoms and the polyps are found by a routine ultrasound or CT scan. However, some people do experience symptoms, such as pain in the upper right part of the abdomen and nausea. Polyps that aren’t causing symptoms can be monitored via ultrasound to see if they get larger. Gallbladder removal may be recommended in the case of symptomatic or large polyps. Less common gallbladder issuesThere are other conditions that can affect the gallbladder. However, they occur less commonly than the conditions discussed above:
The following strategies may help lower your risk of gallbladder conditions such as gallstones:
Your gallbladder can be removed, if necessary. This is typically recommended if you have painful gallstones that are causing blockages or inflammation. People without a gallbladder can live a normal life. Your liver will still produce the bile that you need for digestion. However, instead of being stored in the gallbladder, the bile will move directly to the small intestine. After you’ve had your gallbladder removed, you may need to make dietary adjustments to help your body adapt to the change. Dietary changes may include:
It’s important to speak with your doctor if you think you have symptoms of a gallbladder problem such as gallstones. This typically involves sudden pain in the upper right part of your abdomen. This pain often happens after eating. Some symptoms may indicate a more serious gallbladder problem. Seek immediate medical attention for abdominal pain that’s severe, lasts longer than 5 hours, or occurs along with:
Your gallbladder is located in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Its function is to store bile that’s produced by the liver. There are a variety of conditions that can affect the gallbladder, the most common of which are gallstones. Untreated gallstones can lead to potentially serious complications like blockages and inflammation. See your doctor if you have pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, particularly after eating. This could be a symptom of gallstones. Severe pain in the right part of the abdomen that’s accompanied by nausea or vomiting, fever, and chills can indicate a more serious condition that needs emergency medical attention. What happens when your gallbladder is removed?You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system.
What is the main function of the gallbladder?Your gallbladder is part of your digestive system. Its main function is to store bile. Bile helps your digestive system break down fats. Bile is a mixture of mainly cholesterol, bilirubin and bile salts.
What are the warning signs of gallbladder?Top Five Signs That You're Having Gallbladder Problems. Pain. Pain in the mid- to upper-right section of your abdomen is the most common sign that there is a problem with your gallbladder. ... . Nausea or Vomiting. ... . Fever or Chills. ... . Chronic diarrhea/Unusual stools or urine. ... . Jaundice. ... . About KentuckyOne Health.. Why do we need our gallbladder removed?Why Does Your Gallbladder Need To Be Removed? You may need gallbladder surgery if you have pain or other symptoms caused by gallstones — small stones that can form in the gallbladder. They can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder.
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