Gallbladder
Overview
The gallbladder is a relatively small organ that plays a big part in the process our body uses to deal with the digestion of food containing fat. The gallbladder is not an essential organ and its removal is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in North America. The gallbladder looks something like a pear and is connected to the liver. Its function is to store bile, the digestive fluid that is secreted by the liver. Bile breaks down fats and neutralizes acids in partially digested foods. Bile flows from the gallbladder when a muscular valve in the common bile duct opens and allows the bile from the gall bladder to flow through the cystic duct, into the common bile duct, and then into a section of the small intestine known as the duodenum. There are times when the substances in the bile crystallize in the gallbladder, creating "stones" which can cause pain. These stones are more common in people over 40, women and the obese.
Symptoms
People have been known to go for years without realizing they have gallbladder
problems because there are many other digestive symptoms that can cause confusion. That points to the importance of getting a diagnosis from your physician. One of the most common symptoms is pain in the right side of the upper abdomin. Indigestion after eating, particularly when the meal consisted of greasy or fatty foods is another symptom, as is a pain between the shoulder blades.
The more symptoms you have the more reason you should consult with your doctor about the possibility that there is a gallbladder problem. Other symptoms on the list include gas, bloating, dizziness, nausea and change in odor and chamber of bowel movements.
Treatment options
There are both surgical and non-surgical procedures for those suffering from gallbladder symptoms. The basic advantages of surgical removal of the gallbladder are elimination of gallstones and their complications and the prevention of gallbladder cancer. There are open procedures that use a wide abdominal incision, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which uses small incisions. Today, that is the most commonly used procedure. Another treatment involves gallstone dissolution by different drugs. These drugs only work on smaller cholesterol stones and, among other things, may cause diarrhea, nausea, pain or fever.
Recovery
The post-surgical recovery will vary with the individual and the method used by your physician. With laparoscopy, the patient can commonly leave the hospital the day of the operation and resume normal activities earlier, when compared to open surgery. Using the laparoscopic procedure there is less postoperative pain and disability. This method features the advantages of more rapid recovery, shorter hospital stays and having to use fewer sick days. Some patients may stay overnight, but most go home the same day.