Can You Have Bile Problems After Gallbladder Removal?

The gallbladder is an organ in the digestive system that sits adjacent to the liver and collects and stores bile that is produced in the liver. Doctors may remove a patient’s gallbladder if gallstones are blocking bile flow.

Surgery Reasons

• According to the Mayo Clinic, physicians may surgically remove a person’s gallbladder because of gallstones in the bile duct or gallbladder, gallbladder inflammation or inflammation of the pancreas. Gallbladder surgery may be called a cholecystectomy and may result in bile problems or other complications.

Laparoscopic Surgery

• A surgeon may perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a tiny video camera that is inserted through a small abdominal incision and tiny instruments that are inserted through other small incisions that remove the gallbladder.

Open Surgery

• A physician may use an open or traditional surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder by making a six inch incision in the abdomen, pulling back muscles and tissues and removing the gallbladder.

Diarrhea

• A patient may develop chronic diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery that may be caused by an increase in bile production and may be treated with anti-diarrheal medications or drugs that reduce absorption of bile acids.

Bile Duct Injury

• An injury to a bile duct is the most serious complication of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and may cause leaks, tearing and narrowing of the duct, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This complication may cause damage to a patient’s liver.

Other Complications

• Patients may develop fatigue, vomiting, and pain after gallbladder removal surgery.