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Gallbladder Disorders and Symptoms

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped non-vital digestive organ that stores the bile produced in the liver. Bile is then released from the gallbladder into the small intestine to assist with digestion of food, particularly fatty foods. Gallbladder diseases, also referred to as biliary diseases, interrupt this function of the gallbladder and interfere with the flow of bile. These diseases include inflammation, infection, stones, or other obstruction of the gallbladder.

  1. Gallstones

    • Gallstones (or cholelithiasis) are the most common form of gallbladder disease. While they are most likely to develop in the gallbladder itself, they may also develop elsewhere in the biliary tract. Stones are usually composed of cholesterol, but may also be caused by too much bilirubin in the liver bile. If gallstones are symptomatic and cannot be dissolved by medication or broken into small pieces by ultrasonic waves, surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as cholecystectomy, may be indicated. Many people with gallstones do not experience any symptoms. Gallstone sufferers who do experience symptoms typically feel pain in the right, upper or middle-upper abdomen, and may run a fever. Extreme symptoms include jaundice, i.e., yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin. Some gallstone sufferers may also experience abdominal fullness, clay-colored stools and nausea or vomiting.

    Cholecystitis

    • Cholecystitis refers to the inflammation of the gallbladder causing severe abdominal pain. Most cases of cholecystits are caused by gallstones trapping bile within the gallbladder that causes irritation and pressure. This inflammation can lead to infection or gallbladder perforation. The primary symptom of cholecystits is acute pain in the upper right or upper center of the abdomen. Secondary symptoms may include feelings of abdominal fullness, excess gas, heartburn, indigestion, clay-colored stools, nausea, vomiting, fever and jaundice.

    Causes and Risk Factors

    • Gallbladder disease is common worldwide, particularly among overweight, middle-aged, white women who have experienced multiple pregnancies. It may occur when an excess of cholesterol or bilirubin exists in the bile, when the bile does not contain sufficient salts or when the gallbladder does not empty properly.

    Exams and Tests

    • During a physical examination, the patient's abdomen is tested for tenderness. If it is determined that further testing is necessary for an accurate diagnosis---tests that detect inflammation, infection or the presence of gallstones include an abdominal CT scan, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal x-rays and liver-function tests.

    Treatment

    • Patients are advised to follow a low-fat diet when food can be tolerated to help gallbladder diseases clear up without more-invasive intervention. In these cases, pain medicines and antibiotics may be prescribed to help with pain management and to fight infection. Removal of the gallstones, or the gallbladder itself, is advised when inflammation or blockage persists. Surgery will prevent future attacks. Emergency surgery is necessary if complications set in, e.g., inflammation of the common bile duct, gangrene (tissue death), peritonitis, perforation or pancreatitis.

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