How do you know when you have gallstones: Gallstones – Symptoms and causes

10.12.197112.08.2021 by alexxlab

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Picture, Symptoms, Types, Causes, Risks, Treatments

What Are Gallstones?

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in your gallbladder, a small organ under your liver. If you have them, you might hear your doctor say you have cholelithiasis.

Your gallbladder stores and releases bile, a fluid made in your liver, to help in digestion. Bile also carries wastes like cholesterol and bilirubin, which your body makes when it breaks down red blood cells. These things can form gallstones.

Gallstones can range from the size of a grain of sand to that of a golf ball. You might not know that you have them until they block a bile duct, causing pain that needs treatment right away.

Gallstone Types

The two main kinds of gallstones are:

Cholesterol stones. These are usually yellow-green. They’re the most common, making up 80% of gallstones.
Pigment stones. These are smaller and darker. They’re made of bilirubin. .

Signs and Symptoms of Gallstones

Symptoms may include:

See your doctor or go to the hospital if you have signs of a serious infection or inflammation:

Causes of Gallstones

Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes gallstones, but they might happen when:

There’s too much cholesterol in your bile. Your body needs bile for digestion. It usually dissolves cholesterol. But when it can’t do that, the extra cholesterol might form stones.
There’s too much bilirubin in your bile. Conditions like cirrhosis, infections, and blood disorders can cause your liver to make too much bilirubin.
Your gallbladder doesn’t empty all the way. This can make your bile very concentrated.

Gallstone Risk Factors

You’re more likely to get gallstones if you:

Gallstone Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical exam and might order tests including:

Blood tests. These check for signs of infection or blockage, and rule out other conditions.

Ultrasound. This makes images of the inside of your body.

CT scan. Specialized X-rays let your doctor see inside your body, including your gallbladder.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP). This test uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the inside of your body, including your liver and gallbladder.

Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan). This test can check whether your gallbladder squeezes correctly. Your doctor injects a harmless radioactive material that makes its way to the organ. A technician can then watch its movement.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Your doctor runs a tube called an endoscope through your mouth down to your small intestine. They inject a dye so they can see your bile ducts on a camera in the endoscope. They can often take out any gallstones that have moved into the ducts.

Endoscopic ultrasound. This test combines ultrasound and endoscopy to look for gallstones.

Gallstone Treatment

You don’t need treatment if you don’t have any symptoms. Some small gallstones can pass through your body on their own.

Most people with gallstones have their gallbladders taken out. You can still digest food without it. Your doctor will use one of two procedures.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is the most common surgery for gallstones. Your doctor passes a narrow tube called a laparoscope into your belly through a small cut. It holds instruments, a light, and a camera. They take out your gallbladder through another small cut. You’ll usually go home the same day.

Open cholecystectomy. Your doctor makes bigger cuts in your belly to remove your gallbladder. You’ll stay in the hospital for a few days afterward.

If gallstones are in your bile ducts, your doctor may use ERCP to find and remove them before or during surgery.

If you have another medical condition and your doctor thinks you shouldn’t have surgery, they might give you medication instead. Chenodiol (Chenodol) and ursodiol (Actigall, Urso 250, Urso Forte) dissolve cholesterol stones. They can cause mild diarrhea.

You may have to take the medicine for years to totally dissolve the stones, and they may come back after you stop taking it.

Complications of Gallstones

Gallstones can cause serious problems, including:

Gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis). This happens when a stone blocks your gallbladder so it can’t empty. It causes constant pain and fever. Your gallbladder might burst, or rupture, if you don’t get treatment right away.
Blocked bile ducts. This can cause fever, chills, and yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice). If a stone blocks the duct to your pancreas, that organ may become inflamed (pancreatitis).
Infected bile ducts (acute cholangitis). A blocked duct is more likely to get infected. If the bacteria spread to your bloodstream, they can cause a dangerous condition called sepsis.
Gallbladder cancer. It’s rare, but gallstones raise your risk of this kind of cancer.

Preventing Gallstones

Some lifestyle changes might lower your risk of gallstones.

Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fiber and good fats, like fish oil and olive oil. Avoid refined carbs, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
Avoid diets that make you lose a lot of weight in a short time.
If you’re a woman at high risk of gallstones (for example, because of your family history or another health condition), talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid the use of hormonal birth control.

Picture, Symptoms, Types, Causes, Risks, Treatments

What Are Gallstones?

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in your gallbladder, a small organ under your liver. If you have them, you might hear your doctor say you have cholelithiasis.

Gallstones can range from the size of a grain of sand to that of a golf ball. You might not know that you have them until they block a bile duct, causing pain that needs treatment right away.

Gallstone Types

The two main kinds of gallstones are:

Cholesterol stones. These are usually yellow-green. They’re the most common, making up 80% of gallstones.
Pigment stones. These are smaller and darker. They’re made of bilirubin..

Signs and Symptoms of Gallstones

Symptoms may include:

See your doctor or go to the hospital if you have signs of a serious infection or inflammation:

Causes of Gallstones

Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes gallstones, but they might happen when:

There’s too much cholesterol in your bile. Your body needs bile for digestion. It usually dissolves cholesterol. But when it can’t do that, the extra cholesterol might form stones.
There’s too much bilirubin in your bile. Conditions like cirrhosis, infections, and blood disorders can cause your liver to make too much bilirubin.
Your gallbladder doesn’t empty all the way. This can make your bile very concentrated.

Gallstone Risk Factors

You’re more likely to get gallstones if you:

Gallstone Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical exam and might order tests including:

Blood tests. These check for signs of infection or blockage, and rule out other conditions.

Ultrasound. This makes images of the inside of your body.

CT scan. Specialized X-rays let your doctor see inside your body, including your gallbladder.

Endoscopic ultrasound. This test combines ultrasound and endoscopy to look for gallstones.

Gallstone Treatment

You don’t need treatment if you don’t have any symptoms. Some small gallstones can pass through your body on their own.

Most people with gallstones have their gallbladders taken out. You can still digest food without it. Your doctor will use one of two procedures.

Open cholecystectomy. Your doctor makes bigger cuts in your belly to remove your gallbladder. You’ll stay in the hospital for a few days afterward.

If gallstones are in your bile ducts, your doctor may use ERCP to find and remove them before or during surgery.

You may have to take the medicine for years to totally dissolve the stones, and they may come back after you stop taking it.

Complications of Gallstones

Gallstones can cause serious problems, including:

Gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis). This happens when a stone blocks your gallbladder so it can’t empty. It causes constant pain and fever. Your gallbladder might burst, or rupture, if you don’t get treatment right away.
Blocked bile ducts. This can cause fever, chills, and yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice). If a stone blocks the duct to your pancreas, that organ may become inflamed (pancreatitis).
Infected bile ducts (acute cholangitis). A blocked duct is more likely to get infected. If the bacteria spread to your bloodstream, they can cause a dangerous condition called sepsis.
Gallbladder cancer. It’s rare, but gallstones raise your risk of this kind of cancer.

Preventing Gallstones

Some lifestyle changes might lower your risk of gallstones.

Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fiber and good fats, like fish oil and olive oil. Avoid refined carbs, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
Avoid diets that make you lose a lot of weight in a short time.
If you’re a woman at high risk of gallstones (for example, because of your family history or another health condition), talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid the use of hormonal birth control.

Symptoms of a Gallbladder Problem

What Can Go Wrong

Some common gallbladder problems include:

Gallstones (cholelithiasis) This is a condition in which small stones, or sometimes larger ones, develop inside the gallbladder.

These stones form from substances found in bile, including cholesterol and a pigment called bilirubin.

Gallstones may cause pain known as biliary colic (see below), but about 90 percent of people with gallstones will have no symptoms.

Most symptomatic gallstones will have been present for a number of years.

For unknown reasons, if you have gallstones for more than 10 years, they are less likely to cause symptoms. (3,4)

Biliary colic This term is often used to describe severe episodes of pain that can occur when gallstones block the flow of bile to the small intestine.

The gallbladder contracts vigorously against the blockage, causing severe pain in spasms, or sometimes constant pain.

Biliary colic episodes usually last one to five hours, with mild pain lingering for up to 24 hours. They’re especially common after large or fatty meals, particularly if you’ve been fasting beforehand. (5)

Inflamed gallbladder (cholecystitis) Inflammation of the gallbladder can be caused by gallstones, excessive alcohol use, infections, or even tumors that cause bile buildup.

But the most common cause of cholecystitis is gallstones.

In this case, irritation by gallstones causes the gallbladder walls to become swollen and painful.

An episode of inflammation can last for several hours, or even a few days. Fever is not unusual.

Sometimes, the inflamed gallbladder is invaded by intestinal bacteria and becomes infected.

Suspected episodes of cholecystitis always require medical attention, particularly if you have a fever. (6)

Perforated gallbladder An inflamed gallbladder can lead to a number of serious complications, including a torn, or perforated, gallbladder. This is a potentially life-threatening condition and requires emergency surgery to remove the gallbladder. (6)

Acalculous biliary pain This refers to pain in the bile ducts that isn’t followed by any gallstones appearing in imaging tests.

It may be due to improper emptying of the gallbladder, overly sensitive bile ducts or small intestine, or gallstones that are too small to be seen on imaging scans or that have passed through already.

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is often successful at resolving biliary pain without gallstones. (7)

Common bile duct infection Most cases of inflammation in the bile duct system, called cholangitis, are caused by a combination of obstruction of a bile duct (by gallstone or biliary strictures) and a bacterial infection.

If bacteria builds up above the blockage, it can back up into the liver and may cause severe infection. Antibiotics are needed to treat a bacterial infection. Doctors may also need to drain the fluid in the bile duct to determine the cause of blockage. (8,9)

AIDS-related narrowing of bile ducts In people with AIDS, a weakened immune system can lead to frequent and widespread infections, some of which can result in the bile ducts narrowing. (7)

Primary sclerosing cholangitis This refers to inflammation that causes scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts, and isn’t caused by any other known condition.

While the causes of primary sclerosing cholangitis aren’t completely understood, doctors believe it’s most likely an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. (7)

Gallbladder abscess Sometimes a severe gallbladder infection can lead to an abscess on the organ, also called empyema of the gallbladder. Antibiotics alone may not be enough to treat abscesses and they may need to be drained. (10)

Porcelain gallbladder This occurs when the walls of the gallbladder become so calcified that they resemble porcelain on an X-ray. Porcelain bladders are thought to be associated with a very high risk of cancer and should be removed surgically. (4)

Gallbladder polyps These are growths that protrude from the surface of the inner gallbladder wall. Some polyps form as a result of inflammation or because of cholesterol deposits in the gallbladder wall.

Others are tumors, which may be cancerous, though about 95 percent of gallbladder polyps are benign. According to the American Cancer Society, gallbladder polyps larger than 1 centimeter are more likely to be cancerous and therefore most doctors recommend they be removed. (11,12)

Gallbladder disease This is a blanket term that encompasses inflammation, infection, gallstones, or blockage of the gallbladder.

Recognizing Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack

A gallbladder attack can be a very painful, potentially dangerous medical condition. This article will help you understand the signs and symptoms of gallbladder attack and how it can be treated.

What is the gallbladder?

The gallbladder (gall bladder) is a sac that sits in the right upper abdomen, just below the liver, and stores bile (gall) produced by the liver. Bile is made up of water, cholesterol, bile salts, fats, proteins and bilirubin (a yellowish-brown pigment). If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin, it can harden into gallstones.

Most people with gallstones don’t even know that they have them. In some cases, a gallstone may cause the gallbladder to become inflamed, causing pain, infection, or other serious complications.

Gallbladder Issues–What exactly are they?

When abdominal pain occurs, gallbladder problems are at the top of the list of possible causes for the pain.

Gallbladder Attack

A gallbladder attack is a term commonly used to describe a gallstone blockage event.

In a normal person, bile acids and proteins prevent the formation of gallstones. But when there’s an imbalance in the bile components, pebble-like deposits known as gallstones are formed in the gallbladder. As gallstones block the bile ducts, pressure increases in the gallbladder. This can cause an “attack” of sporadic pain in the center of the upper abdomen called biliary colic. This belly pain will radiate outwards, moving gradually to the center of the belly or upper back.

A gallbladder attack or gallstone blockage can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours. Gallstones are often managed by waiting for them to be naturally passed.

Common signs and symptoms of a gallbladder attack

Gallbladder pain. Pain in the upper right side or middle of the abdomen. The pain can be dull, sharp, or cramping. The pain usually starts suddenly. Feeling of pain is steady and may spread to the back or the area below the right shoulder blade. Having steady pain particularly after meals is a common symptom of gallbladder stones
Nausea. Nausea or vomiting are common symptoms of all types of gallbladder problems
Jaundice. Yellow-tinted skin may be a sign of a common bile duct block from a gallstone

Risk Factors for Gallstones

Numerous factors contribute to your risk of gallstones. Risk factors can include:

being overweight or obese
eating a high-fat or high-cholesterol diet
having diabetes
having a family history of gallstones
being age 60 or older
taking medications that contain estrogen
being a woman

Gallbladder Infection

A gallbladder infection most commonly occurs due to gallstone obstruction of one of the ducts that moves bile from the gallbladder to the intestine. Bacteria in the bile may lead to gallbladder gangrene, rupture, abscess, or a bloodstream infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Gallbladder Infection

Recognizing symptoms that may indicate a gallbladder infection is important, as this condition requires urgent medical treatment.

Fever. Fever is a characteristic symptom of gallbladder infection. Fever generally does not occur with a typical gallbladder attack, the presence of fever is an important distinguishing characteristic that points to an infection. A sudden temperature spike in someone with gallbladder-related symptoms could indicate the development of gallbladder gangrene or rupture, or the development of a bloodstream infection.
Gallbladder Pain. Gallbladder infection almost always causes severe pain, which usually begins in the right or middle upper abdomen. Over time, the pain increases in intensity and becomes more generalized, a characteristic that helps distinguish a gallbladder infection from a gallbladder attack. Gallbladder pain that lasts more than 6 hours points to the possibility of a gallbladder infection.
Gastrointestinal Disturbances. Abdominal distension due to decreased intestinal activity in response to a gallbladder infection or inflammation may also occur.
Heart Palpitations, Rapid Breathing and Confusion. A racing heartbeat, rapid breathing and confusion are typical symptoms of shock, which may develop if a gallbladder infection spreads to the bloodstream.

Gallbladder Disease

Cholecystitis is the most common type of gallbladder disease. A common sign of Cholecystitis may be either an acute or chronic inflammation.

Acute cholecystitis is generally caused by gallstones, but may also be the result of tumors or various other illnesses. Acute cholecystitis will present with pain in the upper right side or upper middle part of the abdomen. The pain can come right after a meal and range from sharp pangs to dull aches that may often radiate to the right shoulder. Additional symptoms of acute cholecystitis include: fever nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and different colored stools.

Cholecystitis is considered chronic after several attacks of acute cholecystitis, the gallbladder will begin to shrink and lose its function of storing and releasing bile. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may follow.

Test Used To Evaluate for Gallbladder Disease

Blood Tests – A blood test may also be performed to help diagnose gallbladder disease. A complete blood count, or CBC, can help confirm an infection if there is a high white blood cell count. Other specific blood tests can also reveal high bilirubin levels (the cause of jaundice, a complication of gallbladder problems) or elevated enzymes suggesting an obstruction in the gallbladder.
Urine Tests – Urine tests may also be performed to help diagnose problems with the gallbladder by looking for abnormal levels of chemicals like amylase, which is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of carbohydrates, and lipase, another enzyme that helps break down fats.
Ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to examine the bile ducts, liver and pancreas. It is not invasive and is very safe. Stones may be seen in the gallbladder or bile ducts. Imaging may be impaired in patients who are obese or have recently eaten food.
Endoscopic Ultrasound – This device uses a special scope with an ultrasound probe on the end. The scope is passed down into the small intestines where internal ultrasound images of the bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreas can be obtained.
CT Scan – It is helpful in diagnosing cancers within the pancreas. It may identify gallstones but is not as effective in finding them as an ultrasound.
ERCP – ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). This is a special type of endoscope, which allows access to the bile ducts and pancreas ducts. It also allows therapy to be performed such as removing stones from the bile ducts or pancreas ducts.
MRCP – MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography). This test uses a machine called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). It is a noninvasive test that employs special computer software to create images of the bile and pancreatic ducts similar to the images obtained by ERCP and does not require an endoscopy.

Gallbladder Removal

If you have gallbladder disease, your gastroenterologist may recommend removing your gallbladder. Humans can live without a gallbladder. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.

What is Gastroenterology?

Gastroenterology is the study of the normal function and diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. It involves a detailed understanding of the normal action (physiology) of the gastrointestinal organs including the movement of material through the stomach and intestine, the digestion and absorption of nutrients into the body, removal of waste from the system, and the function of the liver as a digestive organ.

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A Gastroenterologist is a physician with dedicated training and unique experience in the management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

While the stomach does a wonderful job of starting the digestion process, it doesn’t work alone. The small intestine, colon, and many other organs participate in turning food into nutrients the body can use. The gallbladder is one of the many organs that plays a part in the digestion process, but what exactly is the purpose of the gallbladder?

What is the Purpose of the Gallbladder?

The liver produces a fluid called bile which helps the small intestine break down fats from food, as well as fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. Bile also carries waste out of the body. Bile is mostly made up of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts. The gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ, releases bile during mealtimes to help the body digest fats. When the body is not actively digesting, such as overnight or between meals, the gallbladder stores bile.

Where is the Gallbladder Located?

The gallbladder is located in a small indention underneath the liver.

Common Gallbladder Problems

The gallbladder can be affected by several potential health conditions. Anything which blocks the normal flow of bile into and out of the gallbladder can lead to health issues.

Polyps
Infection
Tumors
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Gallbladder cancer
Gallbladder is not working properly
Gallbladder has stopped working
Gallstones which cause symptoms

Not all gallstones cause symptoms. You could have gallstone and not even know it! ‘Silent’ gallstones, meaning that the stones do not cause symptoms, may be present for years and discovered during an imaging test for another condition. As long as silent gallstones do not cause symptoms, the gallbladder does not need to be removed. Most of the time, the gallbladder is removed when a problem occurs – especially in the case of gallstones. Once you have gallstones, they are likely to recur if the gallbladder is not removed. You can live a normal lifestyle without a gallbladder, since bile has other paths to reach the small intestine.

Can You Avoid Gallstone With Diet?

Gallstones usually occur when the substances which make up bile are out of balance. Too much bilirubin or cholesterol can cause gallstones to form. Insufficient bile salts can also lead to gallstone formation. There is no surefire way to avoid gallstones. However, you can help reduce your risk with your diet.

Choose low fat or nonfat foods
Choose diets high in fiber and whole grains
Be sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet
Avoid foods high in cholesterol
Avoid fatty meats, and opt for lean cuts and fish
Don’t skip meals, if possible

Keeping active and maintaining a healthy weight are other ways to reduce your risk of developing gallstones. Exercise is a natural way to reduce cholesterol. Even better, exercise is great for your overall well-being!

Who is at Risk for Gallstones?

Some people are at a higher risk of gallstones than others. It’s especially important for people who have inherent risk factors to practice healthy eating and lifestyle habits. People at risk for gallstones include:

Women
Pregnant women
Being Native American
Having a family history of gallstones
Having diabetes
People over age 60
Being obese or overweight
Eating a high fat and/or high cholesterol diet
Eating a low-fiber diet
Losing weight at a rapid rate
People on certain medications, including some cholesterol-lowering medications and some hormone therapy drugs

Having any one of these risk factors increases your chance of developing gallstones. Being proactive about the risk factors which you can control will help reduce your chance.

When your gallbladder is causing uncomfortable symptoms and side effects, there’s a good chance that you will need to have your gallbladder removed.

Gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a fairly common procedure. There are several potential reasons why your gallbladder may need to be removed.

Why Does My Gallbladder Need to be Removed?

When functioning normally, the gallbladder controls the distribution of bile, a fluid which helps the digestive system process fats. Bile is stored in the gallbladder when the body is not actively digesting, such as between meals or overnight, and released into the small intestine during mealtimes.

There are several conditions which can interrupt the normal flow of bile. When bile can’t flow normally, a person may feel symptoms such as pain, discomfort, nausea, and more.

Common reasons to have your gallbladder removed:

Extreme inflammation (cholecystitis)
Infection
Tumors
Gallbladder cancer
Gallbladder is not working properly
Gallbladder has stopped working
Gallstones which cause symptoms

Some people may have gallstones that do not cause symptoms. These gallstones are often found during other medical tests and procedures. Since ‘silent’ gallstones are asymptomatic, they do not generally need to be removed unless they start causing symptoms.

Common Types of Gallbladder Removal Surgery

The type of gallbladder removal surgery you receive will depend on the source of the problem, the size of any gallstones, and how the gallbladder can safely be removed.

Open cholecystectomy: Also known as ‘traditional’ or ‘conventional’ gallbladder removal surgery.

A long incision is made in the patient’s abdomen. The gallbladder is separated, sutures applied to cystic ducts and arteries, and the gallbladder removed.
Patients can expect to stay in the hospital for up to a week after the operation.
The average recovery time to return to normal work and activities is usually four to six weeks.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Sometimes called ‘keyhole’ surgery due to the small incisions and use of a tiny video camera during the procedure.

Several small incisions are made in the patient’s abdomen. As with open cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is separated, sutures applied, and the gallbladder removed.
If for any reason the gallbladder is determined unsafe to remove by way of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, your surgeon will switch to open cholecystectomy.
Since this procedure is less invasive, patients can usually leave the hospital within 24 hours of surgery.
The average recovery time to return to normal work and activities is usually two weeks.

For both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, your surgeon will want to verify that there are no gallstones in the bile duct by taking an X-ray of the area. If any gallstones are found, they will be removed during surgery.

Non-surgical treatment: Some people are unable to have surgery due to pre-existing medical conditions or prior surgery in the upper abdomen. In these cases, non-surgical treatments may be an option.

Medication may be prescribed to dissolve cholesterol-based gallstones. However, it may take months or years for the gallstones to completely dissolve, and the stones may return at a later date.
Shock wave dissolution, also known as lithotripsy, is a procedure which uses a focused sound wave to break cholesterol gallstones into small pieces. The pieces are then carried naturally out of the gallbladder and into the digestive system.

What Happens if My Gallbladder is Not Removed?

Anesthesia is a frightening concept for many people, leading some to postpone or avoid gallbladder removal surgery. Untreated, your gallbladder can result in several complications.

Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) can lead to a ruptured gallbladder.
Cholangitis (bile duct infection) can be harmful in itself, but can spread to other organs such as the liver.
Loose gallstones in your system can lead to pancreatitis if they block the bile duct.
Any of these complications can quickly become dangerous for your health.

Recovery Tips After Gallbladder Removal Surgery

It’s normal for you to feel sick, bloated, or tired immediately after your surgery. Caring for your wounds and taking care of your health will speed along your recovery.

Dress your stitches properly, cleaning the area, replacing dressings regularly, and applying any medication your doctor prescribes.
Get plenty of sleep!
Eat small, light meals immediately after the surgery, and build up to normal intake over the next few days.
Exercise – but choose gentle activities such as walking.
Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after surgery.

If you experience fever, jaundice, pain, persistent nausea, or a return of your original symptoms, contact your doctor immediately as these could be signs of complications.

Surgery and lifestyle changes are two things which often go hand in hand. Surgeries take place for a wide variety of reasons. Beyond the recovery process, the body usually has to adapt to a new equilibrium.

The gallbladder is one organ which is usually removed when something goes awry with how it functions. Is it possible to live without a gallbladder?

Is it Possible to Live Without a Gallbladder?

It is absolutely possible to live a long and healthy life without a gallbladder. To understand why, you’ll need to know a little background about what the gallbladder does.

The gallbladder stores a fluid called bile, which is produced by the liver to help break down fats during digestion. When bile cannot be delivered to the small intestine as normal, the gallbladder is most often removed.

Gallstones, which are usually made up of cholesterol or bilirubin, can clog gallbladder ducts and cause pain, nausea, and many other symptoms. Since gallstones often recur after removal, the gallbladder is generally removed. Swollen or infected gallbladders happen for a variety of reasons and are also candidates for removal.

Even though the gallbladder helps digestion, the body has other ways of transporting bile to the small intestine. The main difference is that without a gallbladder, bile is continuously delivered into the small intestine instead of being stored and distributed at intervals.

Types of Gallbladder Removal Surgery

There are several types of gallbladder removal surgery, which is also known as a cholecystectomy.

Open cholecystectomy: A procedure where an incision is made in the patient’s abdomen and the gallbladder is removed. Hospital stays usually average around a week, while recovery is estimated between four to six weeks.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Multiple incisions are made in the patient’s abdomen and a specialized camera is used during the procedure. Hospital stays are usually less than 24 hours, and most patients can return to normal activities within two weeks.
Non-surgical treatments: Usually used when surgery is not an option for a patient. These patients may have had prior abdominal surgery or other health conditions. Medication can be prescribed to dissolve cholesterol-based gallstones. Lithotripsy, or shock wave dissolution, is another way to dissolve cholesterol-based gallstones.

Open cholecystectomies used to be the most common type of gallbladder removal surgery, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery has now become the standard for most cases.

Activity and Diet Without a Gallbladder

After recovering from surgery, you can return to your normal activities without needing to alter or reduce the intensity of your work, workouts, or hobbies.

The main lifestyle changes you’ll expect following gallbladder removal surgery center around your diet. Your gallbladder was in charge delivering bile to your small intestine during mealtimes and storing bile when not needed, such as overnight.

Without a gallbladder, bile is constantly delivered to your small intestine. This means that you may experience some changes in your digestion. For most people, these side effects go away over time.

You may experience:

Flatulence
Diarrhea
Indigestion

Your body will also digest food differently now that the flow of bile has changed. Fatty foods, full fat milk and dairy, and spicy foods may cause indigestion in some people. A balanced diet which is high and fiber and low in fat is a good place to start as you determine the right diet for you.

Dietary recommendations to help manage your digestion:

Avoid fatty or fried foods
Reduce or cut out spicy foods
Choose high fiber foods and whole grains
Choose plenty of vegetables
Opt for low fat or non-fat dairy
Reduce your caffeine intake if it causes indigestion
Avoid eating a large meal after fasting
Eat smaller meals throughout the day

You can live a healthy lifestyle without your gallbladder. Finding the right diet for your digestive system may take some time. Stay positive, experiment with different combinations of food and drink, and always consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have.

If you experience persistent symptoms, develop jaundice, become weak, or notice significant weight loss after surgery, you will want to speak to your doctor.

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ which stores and releases bile, which is helpful in digesting fats. Sometimes, whether as a result of infection, gallstones, or other issues, the gallbladder needs to be removed. One type of gallbladder removal surgery – laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) – is one option to remove a problematic gallbladder.

What is Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal Surgery?

There are two main types of gallbladder removal surgery, open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Open cholecystectomy: Also known as ‘traditional’ cholecystectomy. A single abdominal incision is made to allow the surgeon to remove the gallbladder.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Several small incisions and a specialized scope called a laparoscope (a tiny video camera) are used to remove the gallbladder.

Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery is far less invasive than open cholecystectomy.

What is the Procedure for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

Prior to the surgery, the patient is put under general anesthesia and remains asleep throughout the procedure.

Surgeons make several small incisions in the abdomen and pass surgical instruments and the laparoscope (a video camera with a light attached) through the incisions.
The surgeon locates the gallbladder. If the gallbladder is too complicated to remove with LC, they will switch to an open cholecystectomy and a larger incision will be made to allow access to the gallbladder.
If the gallbladder is safe to remove with LC, the surgeon closes off the attached vessels and tubes and removes the gallbladder from the body.
The incisions are then closed.

Your surgeon may perform a cholangiogram during LC to see if there are any gallstones in the bile duct. A cholangiogram is a test which identifies any gallstones which are located in the tubes and ducts outside of the gallbladder. A dye is injected into the bile duct to illuminate any stones. Then, an X-ray is taken. If any gallstones are located, they will be removed.

Can All Patients Receive a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not an option for everyone. People who have previous upper abdominal surgery or certain pre-existing health conditions may need an alternate treatment method.

LC is also not viable if the gallbladder is infected, extremely inflamed, or if the gallstones are very large.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal

LC surgery is a safe and effective way to remove a problematic gallbladder. After LC surgery, you can usually resume your normal activities after one or two weeks, depending on how quickly you recover.

Benefits of LC Surgery Include:

Shorter recovery time
Shorter hospital stay (usually less than 24 hours)
Less postoperative pain
Less scarring
Fewer complications

Open cholecystectomy is a more invasive procedure than LC, and requires more recovery time and a longer hospital stay.

Living Without a Gallbladder

Living without a gallbladder is rarely different than your normal lifestyle. After recovery, you can still be as active as you were prior to your surgery.

Most of your lifestyle changes will be diet-related. Since the gallbladder stores bile and helps digest fats, you may need to cut down on fatty food. You may also need to choose low-fat dairy, high fiber options, and limit foods which trigger side effects. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can also be beneficial to limiting or avoiding side effects.

Side Effects Include:

Flatulence
Indigestion
Diarrhea

You generally want to aim for a balanced, healthy diet following any type of gallbladder removal surgery.

Symptoms of Gallstones

You may have gallstones and not even know it! These ‘silent’ gallstones may be with you for years, yet never cause symptoms.

People generally have their gallbladders removed when their gallstones cause symptoms. While it’s possible to remove just the gallstone, gallstones are likely to recur and cause further symptoms. Gallbladders which are not working properly may also need to be removed.

Symptoms of Gallstones:

Pain in the right shoulder
Pain in the central abdomen or upper right portion of the abdomen lasting at least 30 minutes
Pain between the shoulder blades
Jaundice
Fever
Clay-colored stools

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, and some people prefer to wait and see if the gallstones go away on their own. However, keep an eye out for the development of emergency symptoms. These symptoms require immediate medical attention.

Emergency Symptoms of Gallstones:

Pain which prevents you from finding a comfortable resting position
High fever and chills
Jaundice

If you experience any of these emergency symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as you can.

Gallbladder removal usually occurs when a patient has gallstones that cause pain, jaundice, and nausea among other symptoms.

The gallbladder is not an essential organ, and people who have their gallbladders removed can live happy, normal lives. Lifestyle changes after gallbladder removal are mostly diet-centric and should not affect any exercise routines you may have.

Lifestyle Changes After Gallbladder Removal

The gallbladder’s purpose is to store and release a fluid called bile. The body produces bile naturally to help digest fatty foods. Bile is released during mealtimes and stored when the body is not actively digesting food, such as while you are asleep.

People can live without the gallbladder because this organ is not essential to digestion. The body has other ways of delivering bile to the small intestine.

Most people will experience some digestive side effects after surgery, but these symptoms usually go away on their own within a few weeks.

Digestion changes you may experience:

Flatulence
Diarrhea
Indigestion

Everyone’s system processes food in a slightly different way, so there is not a set diet. However, there are some recommended guidelines to help you adjust your eating habits.

Diet changes to help you manage living without a gallbladder:

Eat smaller meals spread throughout the day.
Avoid eating a large meal after fasting.
Reduce or cut out foods which make side effects worse, especially fatty and fried foods, as well as gravies.
Choose a diet high in fiber and low in fat.
When eating meat, choose leaner cuts and fish.
Choose non-fat or low-fat dairy.
Caffeinated beverages such as soda and tea can be difficult for some people to digest. Cut back your normal amount and slowly reintroduce caffeine to your system.

When choosing your new diet, aim to find a balanced diet which fits your needs and does not cause you discomfort. Finding the right changes for your lifestyle may take some experimentation. Consult your doctor with any questions or concerns.

If you start to lose weight, become weak, or if symptoms persist or worsen, speak to your doctor.

The gallbladder produces a substance called bile which helps our small intestine break down fats in the foods we eat. Sometimes, gallstones develop in the gallbladder and prevent the normal flow of bile. Gallstones can cause blockages in the gallbladder, causing pain, discomfort, and complications such as cholecystitis. But can gallstones lead to gallbladder cancer?

Can Gallstones lead to Gallbladder Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, gallbladder cancer is estimated to affect approximately 11,000 people in the United States this year. Gallbladder cancer is a rare condition which can either start in the gallbladder or start in another area of the body and spread to the organ.

It is uncommon for people who develop gallbladder cancer to have gallstones. Gallbladder cancer occurs when malignant cells develop in the tissue or membrane of the gallbladder, while gallstones affect the normal flow of bile into and out of the gallbladder.

Gallbladder cancer can be hard to detect, as there are generally no signs or symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms can also mimic other diseases, leading to a delayed diagnosis. The gallbladder is located behind the liver, which can further make detection difficult.

When gallbladder cancer is detected, it is often in a later stage of progression. The early stages are limited to the gallbladder itself, and are easier to treat. Later stages can spread to surrounding muscles, organs, and tissue, and are more difficult to treat.

Gallstone vs Gallbladder Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of gallstones and gallbladder symptoms are similar in some respects, but should not be confused for one another.

Gallbladder cancer can be hard to detect, and is often caught in later stages or while seeking treatment for another health issue.

Symptoms of gallbladder cancer include:

Fever
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating
Lumps in the abdomen
Pain above the stomach
Jaundice

Some people may have gallstones and not even know it! Asymptomatic gallstones are often called ‘silent’ gallstones.

For other people, symptoms of gallstones – also known as ‘gallbladder attacks’ – occur during or after mealtimes. The gallbladder tries to release bile into the digestive tract to help break down fats, but the bile is blocked by a gallstone. Gallbladder attacks may last for one or several hours, and stop when the gallstone moves.

Symptoms of gallstones include:

Pain in the right shoulder
Pain in the central abdomen or upper right portion of the abdomen lasting at least 30 minutes
Pain between the shoulder blades
Jaundice
Fever
Clay-colored stools

Speak to your healthcare provider if you experience the symptoms of gallstones or gallbladder cancer. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely you are to catch a problem before it gets worse!

Treatment for Gallbladder Cancer

The type of treatment for gallbladder cancer will depend on the patient’s age and health, symptoms, and progression of the cancer.

The most common types of treatment are:

Surgery: The gallbladder, tumor, and surrounding tissue may be removed to stop the spread of cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy: Medication is administered by IV or capsule in a set regimen to destroy the cancerous cells, stop their growth and division, and prevent further spread.
Radiation Therapy: X-rays are used over a series of sessions to destroy cancerous cells. This method is often used to shrink tumors prior to surgery, or afterwards to get rid of any remaining cancerous cells.

What is Gallbladder Disease?

The term gallbladder disease refers to conditions which affect the gallbladder. The two most common conditions are:

Gallstones
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Infection

What are Gallbladder Polyps?

Polyps are growths or lesions which protrude from the wall of an organ. They can occur in many areas within the body, including the gallbladder. When a person has gallbladder polyps, the polyp grows from the gallbladder wall into the interior of the gallbladder.

Most of the time, polyps are benign, meaning they are non-cancerous. Malignant polyps are cancerous and require treatment so they do not spread to other organs.

The type of treatment for malignant gallbladder polyps will depend on the size and location of the polyp. Your doctor will be able to make the best assessment of your specific case.

Our Gastroenterology Department

Florida Medical Clinic

In addition to providing general consultation, the Florida Medical Clinic Gastroenterology Department may schedule appointments for patients with diseases or disorders of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Learn more about our Gastroenterology physicians and providers.

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Treatment, Definition, Risk Factors & Symptoms

Overview

Do You Have Gallstone Pain?

What are gallstones?

Gallstones are stone-like objects that develop in the gallbladder or bile ducts (the pipe-like system within the liver). Gallstones can range dramatically in size, from tiny grains of sand to golf ball-sized objects. Interestingly, small stones can often cause the most trouble. These are stones that can leave the gallbladder and get stuck. Larger stones tend to remain quietly in the gallbladder. It is important to know that many people who have gallstones are never bothered by them and may not know the stones are even there. In these cases, no treatment is needed.

What are gallstones made of?

Gallstones are made up of hardened materials in your body. Typically, there are two types:

Cholesterol: Made up of fatty substances in the blood, cholesterol is found throughout the body. These are the most common type of gallstones.
Pigment Stones (mainly made of bilirubin): This substance is created when red blood cells break down in the liver. Too much bilirubin can actually leak into the bloodstream and cause the skin and eyes to turn yellow (jaundice).

Gallstones that are made up of cholesterol tend to be greenish in color. It is more common to have gallstones made of cholesterol than other types of stone.

Where do gallstones develop?

Gallstones are most commonly found in the gallbladder, as cholesterol stones. Gallstones can also travel from the gallbladder to the common bile duct, which is the largest of the ducts (pipes) in the liver.

Common bile duct stones are much less common than gallstones. Stones that find their way into the common bile duct can create more serious medical situations than just gallstones that remain in the gallbladder. Common bile duct stones can block the common bile duct, resulting in a serious infection called cholangitis. These stones can also cause pancreatitis, a painful condition caused by inflammation of the pancreas. Stones in the common bile duct can be removed without surgery by using a scope. Removal of the gallbladder requires surgery, which is typically done laparoscopically (a minimally invasive surgical procedure).

Illustration showing the gallstones and organs around the gallbladder.

What is the gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a small organ tucked up under the liver, on the right side of your body. It is shaped like a swollen pea pod. The gallbladder’s job is to store and dispense bile—a fluid that helps digest fats in the food you eat. Similarly to a pea pod, the gallbladder is green. This is due to the bile inside the gallbladder. Bile is a mixture of cholesterol, bilirubin, bile salts and lecithin.

The gallbladder is connected to other parts of the digestive system through a series of ducts, or tunnels. These ducts help to carry bile and aid in the entire process of breaking down food. Ultimately, the bile finds its way into the common bile duct, where it passes through a special sphincter (a valve made of muscle), into the small intestine. Once there, the bile can mix directly with food that’s waiting to be digested. The common bile duct then empties bile into the duodenum, the first portion of the very lengthy small intestine.

Not all bile travels directly from the liver into the duodenum. Another portion of bile moves from the liver into the gallbladder through a special duct called the cystic duct. The gallbladder stores bile, which is available to be used for digestion on very short notice. If a fatty meal is eaten, then the gallbladder is signaled to contract and to squeeze some stored bile into the common bile duct where it’s passed into the small intestine to mix with food. All bile ends up in the small intestine, where it helps digest food.

What is bile and what is it used for?

Produced in the liver, bile is a combination of cholesterol, bilirubin, bile salts and lecithin. This solution helps break down fat during the digestion process. Bile is either released directly to the small intestine from the hepatic duct (coming straight from the liver) or from the bile ducts after being stored in the gallbladder. The entire system of ducts is called the biliary system. Bile is an important part of digestion and exits the body with your feces.

Symptoms and Causes

Why do gallstones develop?

Gallstones can develop for several reasons, including:

Forming when there is a critical concentration of cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile.
Developing if the gallbladder is lazy and does not completely empty itself of bile.
Occurring in people with other conditions, like:
During pregnancy.
When you rapidly lose weight.

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

The symptoms of gallstones can vary based on the size of the gallstone. Most gallstones do not cause any symptoms at all. These gallstones are known as silent stones and require no treatment.When the gallstones cause symptoms, they may include:

Pain in the upper mid abdomen or upper right abdomen.
Associated pain in the right shoulder.
Chest pain.
Nausea and vomiting.
Repeated similar episodes.
Jaundice (a yellow tint to the skin and eyes).

Pain is the main symptom most people experience with gallstones. This pain is steady and can last from around 15 minutes to several hours. The episodes, which can be severe, generally subside after one to three hours or so. People who have these painful attacks, while uncomfortable, are not in any medical jeopardy. Gallstones can cause acute cholecystitis, which is a more serious condition when the gallbladder is actually inflamed. This happens if a stone blocks off the cystic duct, which increases the pressure within the gallbladder. This condition may require antibiotics, hospitalization and even urgent surgery. Stones that pass out of the gallbladder and into the common bile duct can cause a complete blockage of the duct with jaundice, infection and pancreatitis.You may feel pain in several places, including:

Upper part of the abdomen, on the right side.
Between the shoulder blades.
Under the right shoulder.

When people experience pain with gallstones, it is sometimes referred to as a gallbladder attack or biliary colic.There are two special conditions that could mimic gallstone symptoms. First, some gallbladders contain a thick sludge, which has not formed into actual stones. Sometimes sludge is felt to cause symptoms similar to actual gallstone pain. Secondly, there is an uncommon condition called acalculous cholecystitis, when the gallbladder becomes inflamed, but no stones are present. This is generally treated by surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Who is at risk for gallstones?

You may have an increased risk for developing gallstones if you:

Are a woman.
Are over the age of 40.
Have a family history of gallstones (members of your family have had gallstones).
Are overweight.
Have lost a large amount of weight over a short amount of time.
Have diabetes.
Have Crohn’s disease.
Eat a diet that is high in fat and cholesterol.
Take drugs that lower cholesterol.
Take various medicines including oral contraceptives.
Have certain blood disorders.
Are of Native American or Mexican descent.

Does my diet or weight place me at risk for gallstones?

People who are overweight or planning to lose weight –either through a planned diet program or a surgery—are actually at an increased risk of developing gallstones. The risk is higher for several reasons.

People who are overweight may have diets that are high in cholesterol. Your bile has cholesterol in it already, but if your diet has excessive amounts of cholesterol, there is a higher chance it will collect in your bile and create a cholesterol gallstone.
Rapid weight loss is also a concern. The gallbladder is a part of the digestive process. It holds bile to the side like a storage tank. Then the gallbladder releases the bile through the ducts and into the intestine to help break down food. If you go on a diet plan that significantly reduces your calorie intake or you have a weight loss surgery, your liver secretes extra cholesterol into the bile. The gallbladder can sometimes be ‘lazy’ and not able to contract vigorously, which also leads to gallstone formation. Patients who are undergoing a gastric bypass or other surgical procedure that will lead to rapid weight loss are at risk of gallstone formation. For this reason, surgeons may remove the gallbladder prophylactically (a preventive measure) at the time of the weight loss surgery.

If you are considering a weight loss program or surgery, it is important to discuss your risks with a doctor. This could be especially important if you have had stones in the past. It is common for gallstones to happen more than once.

Can children get gallstones?

Gallstones can happen to both children and adults. It is most common to see gallstones in middle-aged adults. However, adults are not the only ones who experience gallstones. One challenge with gallstones in children is identifying symptoms. Young children may have difficulty expressing where the pain is located. If you child has any unusual symptoms or abdominal pain, call your doctor.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are gallstones diagnosed?

The most commonly used test to detect gallstones is an ultrasound. Ultrasound is a painless and accurate procedure that transmits high-frequency sound waves through body tissues. The echoes are recorded and transformed into video or photographic images of the internal structures of the body. While no test is 100%, this is a very accurate test for diagnosing gallstones. There are other radiology tests that are sometimes used, but ultrasound is the main tool for diagnosing gallbladder disease.

In general, ultrasound does not visualize the common bile duct well. Though stones in this duct aren’t as common, they can happen. If they are suspected, the following tests may be done:

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This is both a test and a possible treatment for common bile duct stones. When used as a test, an endoscope—a flexible tube with a light and a camera attached—is inserted into the patient’s mouth, down the throat, and into the stomach and small intestine. A dye is injected to allow the bile ducts to stand out. If there are gallstones in the bile duct, they can be removed by the endoscope. This scope cannot remove stones contained within the gallbladder.

Illustration showing the flexible tube for the ERCP can diagnose and sometimes treat gallstones.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): In MRCP, the bile ducts are examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a test that uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to produce very clear images of parts of the body. Unlike ERCP, MRCP can only diagnose common bile duct stones. It cannot remove them. However, MRCP’s advantage over ERCP is that it is the safer alternative, so often physicians will opt for MRCP initially.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): This procedure combines endoscopy with ultrasound (there’s a probe at the tip of the scope). Like ERCP, this scope is passed through the mouth and advanced to the common bile duct and gallbladder region. It visualizes the common bile duct well. Similarly to MRCP, allstones are identified but not removed during this procedure. If common bile duct stones are demonstrated by EUS (or MRCP), then an ERCP will generally follow to remove them.
Illustration showing how the scope of the can go into the body to view the gallstones.

Management and Treatment

Illustration of incision locations for a laproscopic cholecystectomy

How are gallstones treated?

Silent stones are not treated and should be left alone. Most people who have gallstones are in this category.If you have symptoms, such as pain, you will probably need to be treated. The most common treatment for gallstones is to remove the gallbladder surgically. Removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy. In the majority of cases (90%), this surgery can be performed laparoscopically, a minimally invasive technique that results in less post-operative pain and a faster recovery than conventional cholecystectomy.Gallstones that are found in the bile ducts may need to be removed even if there are no symptoms. This procedure is commonly done with the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure.

What is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is known as a minimally invasive procedure because it uses several small incisions instead of one large one. A laparoscope is a narrow tube with a camera. This surgical tool is inserted through one incision. The camera allows your doctor to see your gallbladder on a TV screen. Your gallbladder is then removed through another small incision.

What happens if a laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not work or if there are complications during surgery?

If the patient has certain complications associated with gallstones, the surgeon may need to remove the gallbladder with an open cholecystectomy. This surgery involves an incision in the abdomen and requires a longer hospital stay (three to five days). Medical issues that could lead to open cholecystectomy include:

Having severe inflammation of the gallbladder.
Experiencing difficulties during an attempted laparoscopic surgery.
Having severe cardiac and respiratory issues.
Having a late term pregnancy.
Experiencing major scarring from a previous surgery.
Having a bleeding disorder or liver disease.
Having suspected gallbladder cancer, a very rare condition.

What is an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure?

An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure is another minimally invasive option for removing gallstones. The endoscope is a tube-like tool. Your doctor will need to move it throughout your digestive system during the treatment. The path the endoscope travels is:

In the mouth.
Down the throat.
Through the stomach.
Into the duodenum (beginning of the small intestine) where the common bile duct empties its bile.

Once there, the endoscope is used to remove any blockages in the bile duct.

Can I digest food without a gallbladder?

You don’t need a gallbladder in order to digest food properly. If your gallbladder is removed, bile will flow directly from your liver through the hepatic duct and the common bile duct to the small intestine. After the surgery, you may experience some softer stools, which generally resolve over time.

Are there any non-surgical treatments for gallstones?

In most cases where gallstones need treatment, your healthcare provider will use a minimally invasive technique to remove the stone. There are medications that can be used to dissolve the stones. However, as minimally invasive methods have advanced, these drugs haven’t been used as often. Dissolving medications can take months—or possibly even years—to get rid of the gallstones. By contrast, a procedure resolves the issue quickly. Using these medications to treat gallstones could be an option if you are unable to have surgery because of another condition. Talk to your doctor about all treatment options and which one is the best fit for you.

What are the complications of gallstones?

There are several complications of a gallstone attack, including:

Gallstones can also cause the gallbladder or bile ducts to become infected. A blockage in the common bile duct can cause jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes) or can irritate the pancreas.

Prevention

Can gallstones be prevented?

Gallstones cannot be prevented. However, you can decrease your risk factors by following healthy lifestyle tips. It is important to maintain a healthy weight through exercise and a balanced diet. Talking to your doctor about weight loss and cholesterol management is also a big part of preventing gallstones.

What foods should I avoid if I have had gallstones in the past?

Many gallstones are formed from cholesterol. Though you cannot prevent gallstones, you can try and limit the amount of fatty foods in your diet. Several tips for limiting cholesterol in your diet include:

Eating less meat.
Adding fish.
Limiting the amount of fried foods.
Adding more whole grains.
Choosing low-fat dairy products (cheese, milk).
Adding fresh vegetables and fruit.

Can I have gallstones more than once?

Yes. If you have experienced a gallstone attack once, it is more likely that you will have them again. The multiple attack nature of gallstones is why your doctor may suggest removing the gallbladder.

Outlook / Prognosis

When can I return to my normal activities after having gallstones?

If you have a gallstone that does not require treatment (silent stone) you can continue on with your normal activities right away. If you have a minimally-invasive procedure, you will need a short amount of time to recover before starting your activities again. Two major advantages of minimally-invasive procedures include a much faster recovery time and less pain. Larger, open surgeries traditionally mean more time in the hospital and a longer recovery at home. Speak with your doctor about a realistic plan for your recovery.

Living With

When should I call my doctor?

If you are experiencing pain in your abdomen, call your doctor, especially if the pain increases over time and is associated with fever, nausea or vomiting. Abdominal pain has many causes and your doctor will evaluate your symptoms carefully in order to make the correct diagnosis. If your symptoms are severe, then you may be directed to an emergency department for immediate evaluation.Are gallstones fatal?Gallstones themselves are not fatal. However, they can cause many complications that could be fatal. Fortunately, this is a rare event. If a large stone blocks your bile ducts after leaving the gallbladder, there could be a build-up of bile in the gallbladder and ducts, causing severe pain and an infection within the ducts. This is an urgent medical situation that needs prompt treatment, such as an emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Of course, all medical procedures—such as ERCP and cholecystectomy—have risks.

How quickly will I recover from gallstones?

If gallstones cause symptoms, then you may need surgery. If you have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (minimally invasive procedure to remove the gallbladder) without any complications, you may be home within 24 hours. If there are complicating factors—swelling of the gallbladder, infection, a blocked duct or other medical conditions may need to have an open surgery. If that happens, your hospital stay could be about three to five days.

Gallstones – Diagnosis – NHS

Seeing your GP

Your GP will ask about your symptoms in detail and may carry out the Murphy’s sign test to help determine if your gallbladder is inflamed.

During this test, your GP places their hand or fingers on the upper-right area of your tummy and asks you to breathe in.

If you find this painful, it usually means your gallbladder is inflamed and you may need urgent treatment.

Your GP may also recommend having blood tests to look for signs of infection or check if your liver is working normally.

If gallstones have moved into your bile duct, the liver may not be able to function properly.

Further tests

If your symptoms and test results suggest you may have gallstones, you’ll usually be referred for further tests.

You may be admitted to hospital for tests the same day if it’s thought you may have a more severe form of gallbladder disease.

Ultrasound scan

Gallstones can usually be confirmed using an ultrasound scan, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body.

The type of ultrasound scan used for gallstones is similar to the scan used during pregnancy, where a small handheld device called a transducer is placed onto your skin and moved over your upper abdomen.

Sound waves are sent from the transducer, through your skin and into your body. They bounce back off the body tissues, forming an image on a monitor.

This is a painless procedure that usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

When gallstones are diagnosed, there may be some uncertainty about whether any stones have passed into the bile duct.

Gallstones in the bile duct are sometimes seen during an ultrasound scan. If they’re not visible but your tests suggest the bile duct may be affected, you may need an MRI scan or a cholangiography.

MRI scan

An MRI scan may be carried out to look for gallstones in the bile ducts.

This type of scan uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

Cholangiography

A procedure called a cholangiography can give further information about the condition of your gallbladder.

A cholangiography uses a dye that shows up on X-rays. The dye may be injected into your bloodstream or directly into your bile ducts during surgery, or by using an endoscope passed through your mouth.

After the dye has been introduced, X-ray images are taken. They’ll reveal any abnormality in your bile or pancreatic systems.

If your gallbladder and bile systems are working normally, the dye will be absorbed in the places it’s meant to go (your liver, bile ducts, intestines and gallbladder).

If a blockage is detected during this test, your doctor may try to remove it at this point using an endoscope.

This is known as an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP).

CT scan

A CT scan may be carried out to look for any complications of gallstones, such as acute pancreatitis.

In this type of scan, a series of X-rays are taken from many different angles.

CT scans are often carried out in an emergency to diagnose severe abdominal pain.

What You Need to Know About Gallstones

Did you know? You may be at higher risk for gallstones depending on your age, gender and other factors. Read on to learn more about gallstones, what to eat to prevent them and what to eat if you need your gallbladder removed.

What is the gallbladder and what are gallstones?

The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile. Bile helps you digest fat. Gallstones are hard pebbles that can form in the gallbladder when bile hardens.

Am I at risk for getting gallstones?

You may be at higher risk for gallstones if you:

Are a woman

Are over the age of 60

Take cholesterol medication

Are pregnant

Use hormone replacement therapy

Use birth control pills

Are overweight, especially if you are a woman

Have diabetes

Have lost weight very quickly

Fast (go without eating for long periods of time)

Are Aboriginal

What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Many people with gallstones will not have any symptoms. These “silent” gallstones do not affect how the gallbladder works. However, if gallstones block the passage of bile through the gallbladder, the increased pressure will cause pain and discomfort in the abdomen area.

How are gallstones treated?

If you have gallstones and are not having pain, gallstones are usually left untreated. However, if you have pain, you will require treatment. The most common treatment for gallstones is surgery to remove the gallbladder. Because the gallbladder is not an essential organ, people can live normally without it.

How can I help prevent gallstones?

Choose high fibre foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruit and legumes (beans, peas and lentils).

Enjoy 2-3 servings of lower fat milk products each day. Good choices include skim or 1% milk, yogurt (2% M.F. or less) and cheese (20% M.F. or less). Learn about serving sizes here.

Include 2-3 servings of meat and alternatives each day. Choose leaner meats. Remove skin from poultry. Try plant-based alternatives such as beans, tofu and lentils. Learn about serving sizes here.

Include 30-45 mL (2-3 Tbsp) of healthy fat each day. Healthy fats include non-hydrogenated margarine and canola, olive and soybean oils. Avoiding fat does not decrease the risk of gallstones.

Eat less sugar. Limit high sugar foods like sweetened beverages, desserts, chocolate and candy.

Enjoy unsalted nuts a few times each week.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Have caffeine in moderation. This is about 3 cups of brewed coffee per day.

If you drink, have alcohol in moderation, no more than 1 drink per day.

What do I eat if I need my gallbladder removed?

Before you have surgery, eat a healthy diet by following Canada’s Food Guide unless your doctor gives you other advice.

Choose high fibre foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruit and legumes (beans, peas and lentils).

Enjoy 2-3 servings of lower fat milk and alternatives each day. Good choices include skim or 1% milk, yogurt (2% M.F. or less) and cheese (20% M.F. or less). Learn about serving sizes here.

Include 2-3 servings of meat and alternatives each day. Choose leaner meats. Remove skin from poultry. Try plant-based alternatives such as beans, tofu and lentils. Learn about serving sizes here.

Do not cut out all the fat from your diet. Limit the fat you use at the table and in cooking. Use only 30-45 mL (2-3 Tbsp) each day. Healthy added fats include non-hydrogenated margarines and canola, olive and soybean oils.

Limit high fat desserts and snacks like cookies, store bought baked goods and chocolate.

After you have surgery, go back to your normal diet unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Eat a moderate amount of fat.

When should I see my health care provider about gallstones?

If you have gallstones, it’s important to speak with your health care provider if you have:

Abdominal pain lasting more than 5 hours

Nausea and vomiting

Fever or chills

Yellowish colour of your skin or whites of the eyes (called jaundice)

Dark urine or light-coloured stool

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Last Update – February 26, 2019

90,000 Stones in the gallbladder: causes, treatment

The disease ranks third in prevalence after cardiovascular and endocrine pathologies. The disease is more commonly diagnosed in women.

Stones in the gallbladder: causes and mechanism of development of the disease

Stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts are formed as a result of a violation of the exchange of bile components. Pathology develops with the simultaneous presence of the following factors: the production of lithogenic bile (oversaturated with cholesterol), an imbalance between the activity of the pronucleating and antinucleating components, and a decrease in the contractile function of the gallbladder.

Among the main reasons for the development of gallstone disease are:

hereditary factor;
overweight;
dramatic weight loss;
eating foods high in cholesterol and low in fiber;
inflammation and dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
taking oral contraceptives;
malabsorption syndrome;

90,013 disorders in the endocrine system;

Crohn’s disease;
liver disease.

Also, the disease can develop during pregnancy.

There are 2 main mechanisms of development of the process of formation of stones in the gallbladder: gallbladder-inflammatory and hepatic-metabolic. The first option develops against the background of an inflammatory process, leading to a violation of the acid-base balance of bile and a decrease in the protection of protein fractions, which causes crystallization of bilirubin. Further, the epithelium and mucus are attached to it, which causes the formation of calculus.In the second case, the disease develops against the background of a violation of the metabolic processes of the liver, which is often a consequence of already existing liver diseases, unbalanced nutrition, endocrine disorders, and hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of gallstone disease

The disease develops gradually and in the early stages may not manifest itself in any way. The average growth rate of stones is 3-5 mm per year, so the first symptoms often appear only after a few years.

Symptoms of gallstone disease are varied and depend on the location of stones, their size, etc. You can suspect stones in the gallbladder by the following signs:

pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
taste of bitterness in the mouth;
nausea;
flatulence and other bowel disorders;
belching with air;
Yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.

Many of these symptoms may be indicative of other medical conditions, so you need to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.You can contact a therapist or directly to a gastroenterologist. The main method for diagnosing gallstone disease is ultrasound, it allows not only to confirm the diagnosis, but also to determine the exact location of stones and their size.

Treatment of gallstone disease

If stones are found in the gallbladder, treatment should be started immediately. Otherwise, the disease will progress and lead to complications, including: acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, perforation of the gallbladder, stones in the intestine and the formation of intestinal obstruction. Also, over time, the disease can provoke the development of an oncological process in the gallbladder.

Possibilities of modern medicine make it possible to successfully treat gallstone disease. The main thing is to choose the right tactics. There are 2 main options here:

conservative treatment;
surgical intervention.

Conservative treatment is aimed at dissolving stones with special preparations and crushing them using a laser or ultrasound.There are a number of contraindications to these methods of treatment, besides, it does not always allow to completely solve the problem, therefore, often with stones in the gallbladder, an operation is prescribed – cholecystectomy, which involves the removal of the gallbladder.

Today, most often the removal of the gallbladder is carried out by the modern laparoscopic method, since the lane operation requires a longer rehabilitation. Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia: the surgeon makes 2-4 punctures of the abdominal wall. A video endoscope with a light source is inserted into one puncture, and manipulators into the others. The whole process usually takes 1-2 hours. After that, the patient is sent to the hospital. In the absence of complications, in most cases, the patient is discharged after one or two days.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be done at the DIALINE Surgery Center. The operation is carried out using advanced high-precision equipment, which, combined with the extensive experience of our specialists, allows you to solve the problem quickly and without consequences.

You can make an appointment with a gastroenterologist either on your own in your DIALINE account, or by ordering a call back.

Make an appointment

90,000 🧬 Surprises of the gallbladder

Gastroenterologist, hepatologist GMS Clinic Sergey Vyalov gave an interview to the stopkilo.net Internet portal and spoke about the problems and treatment of the gallbladder.

Introduction

The gallbladder is one of the “special” organs that can literally prepare surprises.Such surprises represent an unexpected attack of severe pain in the abdomen on the right, somewhere under the ribs, which we call “bilious colic”.

The gallbladder acts as a kind of reservoir that collects and stores bile until the right moment, and then throws it out for digestion. If the bile begins to be poorly “stored” or “stagnate”, then its composition changes. Then it all depends on how far the process has gone …

But it all starts with a violation of the normal contractions of the gallbladder – it contracts either too quickly and strongly, or too weakly and slowly.Both of these disorders lead to improper bile secretion and changes in the composition of bile, and in the long term, to the formation of stones.

Most often, errors in nutrition lead to this, when we overeat or eat a lot of fatty, fried, smoked foods. In some people, an additional contribution to the development of gallbladder diseases is made by high cholesterol, hormonal imbalance, taking certain medications, and hereditary predisposition. Stress, emotional and nervous tension also leads to dysfunction of the gallbladder.That is why the last stage, cholelithiasis, often affects women after a critical age. Although in recent years, gallbladder diseases have become very “younger” and are very often detected even in children!

Sensations located in the upper abdomen (in the stomach area) or under the ribs on the right are most often associated with a disease of the stomach or gallbladder, and in rare cases, even the intestines. It is very difficult to distinguish them from each other on your own. When examining the abdomen, the doctor can easily determine what exactly led to the onset of symptoms.A connection with food intake may suggest: if symptoms appear after eating, the problem is most likely associated with the gallbladder or stomach. If the symptoms with food intake do not have a clear connection, there is reason to assume a problem with the intestines.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms of gallbladder disease are discomfort or soreness in the upper abdomen or under the ribs on the right, often associated with eating. Many people experience mild nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, a heaviness under the ribs, or an aching sensation.Most often they occur when the gallbladder is provoked with fatty, fried, spicy or smoked food. However, they can develop a few days after taking antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral drugs.

Chronic cholecystitis develops for a long time and slowly, often manifests itself in discomfort and pain. Acute cholecystitis has more severe symptoms, the temperature may even rise, the pain is forced to sit bent over and hold on to the right side, sometimes even radiate to the back.And I want to go to the doctor. Most often, these symptoms are typical enough for most people.

Cholecystitis, in essence, is an inflammation of the gallbladder, which is accompanied by a violation of its contractions, and a violation of bile secretion.

It is the violation of normal bile secretion that leads to an increase in pressure in the bladder, concentration and thickening of bile. It begins to collect in clots, flakes and lumps appear, which crystallize in the form of stones in a bubble.If cholecystitis is not treated, it can become acute or stones will appear in the bladder. We call this sequential change of stages the “bilious continuum.”

The lifestyle does NOT significantly affect the state of the gallbladder or the development of the inflammatory process in it. Nutrition is more important, as well as taking medications that are excreted along with bile.

The relationship between stress and increased anxiety and gallbladder contractions is important.Very often, an emotional breakdown or a nervous period can lead to the development of the disease.

Recommendations

For diseases of the gallbladder, table No. 5 is recommended. It is also used in the treatment of diseases of the liver and pancreas. Food for diseases of the stomach or intestines is different from the food required for diseases of the gallbladder. The main restrictions apply to fatty, fried, spicy and smoked foods, as well as alcohol. We have developed a special application for the phone “Table No. 5”, which covers nutrition issues in detail.

Cold and hunger treat the most acute period of acute pancreatitis, which sometimes occurs due to gallstone disease. Therefore, there is such a stereotype. Also, hunger is sometimes used for biliary colic. With exacerbation of cholecystitis (not acute cholecystitis!), Drugs that restore contractions of the gallbladder and ursodeoxycholic acid preparations (ursosan) are the standard of treatment. In the initial period of exacerbation, antispasmodics are used (mebeverin, drotaverine, gimecromone). Further, it is possible to use prokinetics (itomed), but they are not used for cholelithiasis, only in the early stages. These drugs normalize bile secretion. It is strictly forbidden to use choleretic drugs without ultrasound results!

This recommendation is not a guide to treatment – the doctor must prescribe the treatment after examination!

In some cases, indeed, diseases of other organs can lead to the development of cholecystitis. Duodenitis is the most common disease, which, due to edema of the “exit” of the biliary tract, leads to impaired bile flow.This increases pressure in the gallbladder and promotes inflammation or stones. Also contributes to cholecystitis and dysfunction of the gallbladder is an excess of bacteria in the intestine, the so-called bacterial overgrowth. This condition can occur after food poisoning, long-standing constipation or prolonged diarrhea, as well as inflammatory bowel disease and diverticular disease.

Source: stopkilo. net

Cholelithiasis – (Di Center clinics)

Stones in the gallbladder: diagnosis and treatment

Gallstone disease (GSD) is a disease in which stones form in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts.

Gallstone disease occurs quite often. In Europe and America, 1/3 of women and ¼ of men have it. As a rule, adults, especially overweight women of age, suffer from gallstone disease.

Reasons

Two main factors are to blame for the formation of stones: stagnation of bile in the gallbladder and an increase in the concentration of salts in bile due to metabolic disorders.

Gallstone disease can be triggered by:

overeating, starvation, irregular eating;
sedentary lifestyle, especially sedentary work;
pregnancy;
taking a pancreatic disease.

What’s happening?

The formation of stones in the gallbladder occurs as a result of the deposition of dense particles of bile. Most stones are composed of cholesterol, bilirubin (a pigment in bile), and calcium salts. They interfere with the normal functioning of the gallbladder, which serves as a reservoir of bile.

Sometimes, with shaking driving, overeating, or the action of other provoking factors, a stone can come out into the mouth of the bile duct (biliary colic) and clog it.As a result, the outflow of bile from the bladder is disrupted, its walls are overstretched and the person feels severe pain. This can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder – acute cholecystitis. Inflammation can also spread to nearby organs – the pancreas, duodenum, stomach.

How does it manifest?

While the stones are not in the duct, but calmly lie in the gallbladder, a person may not even be aware of his illness.The first warning signs by which one can suspect gallstone disease: heaviness in the right hypochondrium, bitterness in the mouth, nausea and belching.

Sometimes the stone comes out of the gallbladder into the bile ducts. In this case, an attack of the so-called biliary colic occurs: a sharp pain occurs in the right hypochondrium or in the upper abdomen. She can “give” to the right collarbone, right arm, or back. At the same time, there is bitterness in the mouth, nausea and vomiting, which does not bring relief.

If the stone (with a relatively small size) was able to bypass the ducts and fall into the duodenum, the attack stops on its own, and the stone comes out with feces. Otherwise, there is a blockage of the biliary tract and there is a risk of developing acute cholecystitis and mechanical (subhepatic) jaundice.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated cholelithiasis (JCL) is carried out by a gastroenterologist.The diagnosis can be established on the basis of patient complaints and a number of additional studies.

First of all, the patient will undergo an ultrasound of the abdominal organs. In more complex cases, an X-ray examination may be required with preliminary administration of a contrast agent (by mouth or intravenously) – cholecystocholangiography. The contrast agent can also be injected directly into the bile ducts by puncturing with a special thin needle (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography) or through an endoscope (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or ERCP).During ERPCG, it is possible to remove small stones from the bile ducts.

Treatment

Gallstone disease can be treated therapeutically (without surgery) and surgically. As a rule, treatment begins with therapeutic methods.

Diet. Recommended 4-6 meals a day with the exception of fatty, fried, spicy, chocolate, carbonated drinks. Smoked meats, fatty meats (lamb, pork), irritating seasonings, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.Plant foods and dairy products are recommended. It is useful to add wheat bran to food.
Dissolving gallstones using special drugs (ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids). The method is used only in the case of single small (up to 2 cm) cholesterol (X-ray) stones, in the absence of contraindications. The course of treatment lasts 1-1.5 years. After a few years, more than half of the patients develop stones again.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the destruction of stones by a shock wave created by special devices. It is indicated in the case of cholesterol stones up to 3 cm in diameter, no more than 3, with sufficient contractility of the gallbladder. The stones are crushed into small pieces (up to 1−2 mm in size) and independently leave the body with feces. The procedure is painless, well tolerated and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Surgical treatment is prescribed in most cases. It consists in removing the gallbladder, which can be done in three ways:

Classic cholecystectomy: during the operation, a fairly wide incision is made in the abdomen. After the operation, a suture with a length of 10-12 cm remains.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: performed using special instruments that are inserted into the abdominal cavity through small holes (up to one centimeter).After the operation, there are practically no marks on the skin. This method has advantages over classical cholecystectomy: it is less traumatic, requires a shorter (up to 4-5 days) hospitalization period, after which there is a faster recovery and return to the usual rhythm of life.
Cholecystectomy from a mini-access: during the operation, an incision of about 3-5 cm is made, through which the gallbladder is removed with the help of special instruments

The surgeon chooses the type of operation depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, the presence of concomitant diseases and other criteria.

Diseases of the gallbladder: symptoms, signs, treatment

When a patient first turns to a specialist for biliary colic, this does not mean that an acute pathological process is already underway in the body. Most often, the examination results determine chronic cholecystitis, the treatment of which takes quite a long time.

Symptoms of cholecystitis develop gradually, so often an attack of biliary colic is an exacerbation of a chronic form of latent gallbladder disease.

In most cases, chronic cholecystitis manifests itself:

pain in the right hypochondrium;
decreased appetite;
bitterness in the mouth;
nausea, less often – morning vomiting of bile.

With exacerbations of the disease, there are attacks of cutting pain in the epigastric region or in the right hypochondrium.

The pain can radiate up and to the right – in the area of the right scapula, right shoulder, right half of the neck. In some cases, the painful sensations spread throughout the abdomen, intensifying when lying on the left side and taking deep breaths.

Additional signs of the disease

In addition to pain, there is a feeling of nausea, vomiting with an admixture of bile may appear, which does not bring relief to the patient. The skin becomes jaundiced or pale. A brownish-yellow coating appears on the tongue, the patient complains of dry mouth.

Restriction of mobility is observed in the upper right part of the abdominal wall, it is painful on palpation, skin sensitivity is increased.

It is important to understand that the localization of pain in the right shoulder blade and the right half of the chest is characteristic not only of diseases of the gallbladder, but also for a number of other pathological conditions of the body. That is why it is extremely important to find out the cause of the pain attack. With cholecystitis, pain most often appears after eating fatty foods and other foods that are difficult for digestion.Relapse of an attack is most often associated with mental trauma, nervous strain or stress.

In patients with cholelithiasis, an attack often occurs due to physical strain and fatigue, for example, after cycling or the gym.

If transient jaundice develops after an attack, this may be a symptom of both hypermotor dyskinesia and gallstone disease. In some cases, in violation of the outflow of bile, in patients for several days, discolored gray-white feces are observed.

A painful attack with uncomplicated gallstone disease begins suddenly and also ends suddenly. The very next day, the patient feels satisfactory.

Nonspecific symptoms

Often manifested in chronic diseases of the biliary tract in the form of:

As a result, the patient may visit different doctors for a long time, who may misdiagnose the disease and determine rheumatism, neuralgia, thyrotoxicosis, gastritis or peptic ulcer disease.However, the reason for this clinical picture is latent cholecystitis, cholelithiasis or biliary dyskinesia.

In older people, cholecystitis may be asymptomatic due to age-related decrease in pain threshold. The opposite situation in patients with chronic diseases of the biliary tract – here the stomach can also be involved in the pathological process. In this case, symptoms such as a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, belching, heartburn, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea appear.

With atonic dyskinesia, dull, weak pains, a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium are usually observed. When eating, the patient develops nausea, an unpleasant aftertaste appears in the mouth, smells of food cause a gag reflex.

All this is reflected in the psychological state of the patient. He becomes distracted, irritable, nervous and does not sleep well.

If you experience similar symptoms of gallbladder disease, then you need to make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.A timely visit to a doctor will allow you to quickly make the correct diagnosis and begin treatment of diseases of the gallbladder, and this will significantly speed up the healing process and improve the prognosis.

You can make an appointment right now by calling us at: +7 (4912) 77-67-51.

90,000 Symptoms of biliary dyskinesia and cholecystitis in children

Dyskinesia is a violation of the outflow of bile through the biliary tract.

There are two types of disorders of the motility of the biliary tract:

Hyperkinetic (when contractions of the gallbladder are intensified).
Hypokinetic (when the walls of the bladder and ducts are relaxed, and the outflow of bile is slowed down).

Causes of the disease

Previous hepatitis
Intestinal infections
Giardiasis
Helminthiasis
Anomalies in the development of the gallbladder and bile ducts, etc.

Symptoms

Symptoms in hyperkinetic dyskinesia:

Intense paroxysmal pain in the right hypochondrium, sometimes radiating to the right shoulder and scapula. The pain appears due to an error in diet, physical activity, stressful situation.
Nausea, less often vomiting. A painful attack is more pronounced when this form is combined with sphincter hypertension.

Symptoms of hypokinetic dyskinesia:

Constant, non-intense pain in the right hypochondrium, accompanied by a feeling of fullness, heaviness in the abdomen, nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, decreased appetite.
Stool disorders (constipation or diarrhea).
Sometimes the color of the stool changes: it becomes light.
The danger of hypokinesia of the gallbladder is that with stagnation of bile, the absorption of fluid and water-soluble substances increases, the concentration of cholesterol and bilirubin in bile increases, which contributes to the formation of clots, and later stones in the gallbladder.

Diagnostic methods for dyskinesia

With the help of ultrasound of the gallbladder, the shape, size, deformation of the gallbladder, the condition of the ducts, and the presence of stones are assessed.

Duodenal intubation in children with biliary dyskinesia makes it possible to assess the volume of portions of bile, its microscopic and biochemical composition. When examining the duodenal contents, signs of inflammation, a tendency to form stones, lamblia, etc. can be detected.

Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of dyskinesia, taking into account its type, allows to normalize the processes of bile excretion and digestion, to prevent inflammation and early stone formation in the biliary tract in children.Long-term disturbance in the work of the biliary system can lead to the development of cholecystitis, cholangitis, cholelithiasis, intestinal dysbiosis.

The results of a blood test also indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. In such cases, the child often needs to be hospitalized in order to conduct an examination and prescribe the correct treatment.

Prevention

Children with biliary dyskinesia need dispensary supervision by a pediatrician, pediatric neurologist and gastroenterologist, ultrasound control, choleretic therapy courses twice a year, and recreational recreation in specialized sanatoriums.It is necessary to monitor the nutrition and regimen of the child, his emotional state.

More about pediatric gastroenterology at the YugMed clinic

Treatment of the gallbladder | Clinic “Medline” in Kemerovo

Despite its small size, the gallbladder is an important organ in the digestive system. It performs the function of collecting bile from the liver and regulating its secretion into the duodenum, depending on the food intake.

The function of bile is to activate digestive enzymes in the intestines and emulsify fats (the process of breaking down large droplets of fat into smaller ones) to facilitate the digestion process.In addition, resorption (reabsorption) of protein, important salts, amino acids into the blood occurs in this organ, as well as the secretion of mucus and a special hormone – cholecystokinin.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a neuropeptide hormone produced by the intestinal mucosa. It is responsible for: reducing the release of hydrochloric acid; stimulation of the pancreas, digestive enzymes, bile secretion, contraction of the gallbladder, is directly related to the relaxation of the bile duct sphincters and stimulation of the vagus nerve.Lack of this substance in the body is fraught with:

disorders in the work of the gallbladder
violation of the flow of bile into the duodenum
violation of the digestive tract in general

In addition, this hormone is involved in maintaining calmness, regulating sleep, suppressing fear and pain, and mental stress.

Gallbladder: Interesting Facts

The gallbladder contains about 50 ml of bile formed in the liver cells, then through special bile ducts, which form a complex network, it enters the gallbladder, where it is stored until a person is eaten
As soon as food enters the duodenum, the gallbladder contracts, and bile, along with pancreatic juice, moves into the intestines
A healthy person can produce from 500 to 1000 ml of bile per day
It contains water, bile acids, inorganic substances, vitamins A, B, C, D, amino acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, bilirubin, proteins, mucus and drug residues
Functions of bile: neutralization of gastric juice; activation of intestinal and pancreatic enzymes; inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines; improvement of intestinal motility; elimination of toxic substances and drugs

Basic pathologies of the gallbladder

Cholelithiasis (cholelithiasis) is a disease of the biliary system associated with a violation of bilirubin metabolism and cholesterol, characterized by the formation of stones inside the liver, in the common bile duct and in the gallbladder.

According to the mechanism of formation, 3 types of stones are distinguished:

cholesterol
pigment bilirubin brown
black

Cholelithiasis can be asymptomatic for a long time, sometimes manifesting itself in the form of bouts of hepatic colic.

Chronic non-calculous cholecystitis is a prolonged inflammatory process that affects the inner membrane of the bladder and is not accompanied by the formation of stones.

The main causes of the disease:

bacterial infection – intestinal microflora (Escherichia coli, enterococcus), staphylococci and streptococci, Proteus, typhoid and paratyphoid sticks, anaerobic microflora
parasitic invasion – feline fluke, lamblia, roundworm
Reverse reflux of bile from the intestine – dangerous by the pancreatic enzymes in it, which, when entering the bladder, begin to digest its wall (this pathology is also called chemical cholecystitis)
Allergies – food and aerogenic allergens
inflammatory diseases of the digestive system – especially negatively affected by hepatitis and pancreatitis
bile stasis

Dyskinesia of the biliary tract – a functional disease of the biliary tract associated with a change in the tone of the gallbladder or ducts.As a rule, it is accompanied by periodic pain in the right hypochondrium and dyspeptic disorders. Dyskinesia usually occurs with constant stress, psychoemotional stress, neuroses. Depending on the change in the tone of the bladder, pain (hyperkinetic) and dyspeptic (hypokinetic) types of the disease are distinguished.

Acute cholangitis – an inflammatory process in the stage of acute exacerbation, which affects the bile ducts. It usually occurs as a complication of chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, or after removal of the gallbladder.The development of infection is facilitated by stagnation of bile, compression of the ducts by tumors, stones. There are obstructive, recurrent, bacterial, secondary sclerosing cholangitis.

Cholecystitis – inflammation of the gallbladder. Signs of the disease – pain in the right hypochondrium of a pulling nature, may increase after eating. Drug treatment – antibiotics, choleretic and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Cholesterosis – the process of deposition of cholesterol in the walls of the gallbladder, for a long time does not manifest itself in anything.Treatment – diet and diet.

Polyps – benign tumor, asymptomatic, except in cases of blockage of the exit from the gallbladder. Treatment is surgical removal of polyps.

Cancer of the gallbladder is a rather rare pathology, in most cases it is the outcome of a chronic inflammatory process in the organ. Treatment is removal of the gallbladder and chemotherapy. Allocate adenocarcinoma, mucous, solid and squamous cell carcinoma.Gallbladder cancer is characterized by high malignancy, early metastasis and invasion of adjacent organs.

Pay attention

Diseases of the gallbladder are the second most frequent diseases of the liver and biliary tract, and the third in all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
With regard to age, they are more likely to affect people over 50 years old, and women are more affected than men.

Symptoms of gallbladder diseases

Pain – localized in the hypochondrium, of varying intensity (less with the bend of the gallbladder, more pronounced with cholecystitis and stones, may be absent with polyps).The pain increases within 24 hours after eating, especially fatty, fried or smoked food. If a stone leaves the gallbladder and blocks the common bile duct, a sharp paroxysmal pain occurs – hepatic colic
Nausea, periodic vomiting, flatulence (bloating) and stool disorders (loosening or a tendency to constipation) – these symptoms of digestive disorders are associated with the flow of bile into the intestines in an incomplete volume or a change in its composition, the process of food digestion is disturbed
Bitter taste in the mouth – accompanies almost all diseases of the liver and gallbladder
Crimson tongue – redness of the tongue, a specific symptom of various problems with the liver or biliary tract
Intense color of urine – the urine becomes deep yellow, up to brown.This is due to the fact that in diseases of the gallbladder, bile acids are partially absorbed into the blood and excreted in the urine, which gives it a characteristic staining
Light stool – normally brown stool is provided by the presence of bile acids in it, respectively, with a decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines, the stool becomes light
Jaundice of the skin and sclera (from subtle to pronounced yellow coloration of the skin and sclera) – occurs when bile acids enter the blood from the gallbladder and settle in the tissues of the body (jaundice)

Diagnosing problems

When the above symptoms appear, in addition to a doctor’s examination, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are required.

In the medical center “Medline” at the services of patients:

Clinical blood test – to identify the inflammatory process in the body, in which there is an increase in ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and the number of leukocytes
Duodenal intubation is an informative diagnostic test in which a thin tube (probe) is inserted into the duodenum and bile is collected through it for examination in a laboratory. This is how the chemical composition of bile, inflammatory elements (leukocytes and mucus appear), atypical cells in tumor processes are determined.Also, bacterial inoculation of bile on nutrient media is carried out in order to identify the causative agent of infection
Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs – this method of examination visualizes the gallbladder, its bend, the thickness of the walls of the gallbladder, the expansion of the common bile duct, the presence of stones, polyps, etc.
Fine-needle biopsy – under ultrasound guidance, a thin needle is inserted into the gallbladder to take a piece of tissue for analysis.Microscopic examination reveals atypical (tumor) cells
X-ray examination with contrast agent – contrast agent is injected intravenously. Then it, together with liver cells, is excreted and accumulates in the gallbladder. This allows you to estimate the size of the bubble and the change in shape (deformation)
Computed and magnetic resonance imaging (CT and MRI) – radiation layer-by-layer examination of tissues and organs, shows even small small tumors, polyps and stones (inclusions) and changes in them

Treatment of gallbladder diseases

The drug therapy prescribed in the gastroenterology department of the Medline clinic is complex – taking into account the cause of the disease and pathological changes.There are fundamental principles that are followed here in the treatment of all gallbladder diseases.

Etiotropic therapy is aimed at completely eliminating the cause of the disease. For this, antibiotics are used for cholecystitis, surgical treatment for cholelithiasis, polyps and tumors of the gallbladder.

Pathogenetic therapy – used to restore the function of the gallbladder (antispasmodics for hyperkinetic type of dyskinesia), reduce the intoxication of the body with cholecystitis and tumors.Enzymatic preparations with bile acids (mezim) are used to improve digestion.

Symptomatic therapy is a treatment aimed at reducing discomfort and discomfort, pain relievers (ketanov, analgin) and anti-inflammatory (paracetamol) drugs, antispasmodics (no-shpa, drotaverine) or their combinations (noshpalgin, spazmalgon).

Diet. Diet for gallbladder disease is to minimize the harmful effects of food on the functioning of the gallbladder.For this, table No. 5 according to Pevzner is used, which excludes fatty meats and poultry (pork, duck), rich broths (enhances the contraction of the walls of the gallbladder).

It is advisable to eat lean meats (beef, rabbit), poultry (chicken), fish (preferably river fish), dairy products, vegetables and fruits. The process of cooking is also important; you cannot fry or smoke it. All dishes are steamed or stewed.

Food.A very important factor in gallbladder problems is not only what food you can and cannot eat, but also how and when to eat. The most optimal is 5 meals a day in small portions, the last dinner at least 2 hours before bedtime. Snacks on the go and dry food are not allowed.

90,000 treatment and diagnosis of causes and symptoms in Moscow

Agarkova S.A.

15 June 2021

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Valeria Alexandrovna for the attentive, professional and patient attitude towards patients.Communication with you gives hope for recovery and the fact that in our medicine there are real specialists in their profession. Thank you all advice …

More details

Kurochkina Valentina Nikolaevna

4 June 2021

Inna Yurievna is a competent specialist. It is noticeable that he wants to cure the patient from the heart.Competent approach to work. I am grateful to her for making the correct diagnosis and choosing a treatment regimen.

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Ptitsyna Natalia Nikolaevna

5 March 2021

I want to express my deep gratitude to the gastroenterologist Olga Chuikova, this is a high-level specialist, when assigning me to remove a tumor in the intestine, she checked all the information on my examinations in the clinic, even for 2020 and 2019, prescribed tests, not only with regards to this situation…

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Antonovich Ivan

17 March 2020

I would like to express my gratitude to Elena Yurievna Lopatina for her professionalism.
Very quickly cured me of biliary slange (previously suffered with it for 4 months)

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Feyzrakhmanoa Ildar Fatehovich

15 November 2019

Many thanks to Lopatina E.Yu for my salvation and competent treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, was able to quickly cure and avoid gastric resection. No operation needed! Many thanks and health to all of us!
Spouses Ildar Feyzrakhmanoa and Zuleikha Anderzhanova

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Natalia Viktorovna

22 May 2019

Good afternoon! 21.05.2019 was consulted by a gastroenterologist, Ph.D. Lopatina Elena Yurievna. I would like to express my gratitude for such high professionalism. A very competent and talented doctor. She clearly described the treatment regimen, explained everything. All my questions were answered by …

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Vasilyeva E

15 May 2019

I would like to express my gratitude to the gastroenterologist T.V. for professional work and dedication to the profession. Very attentive doctor. Professional with vast experience !!

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