Gallbladder Information Page

Did you know you can live without your gallbladder? The gallbladder is a 4-inch pear shaped sac located under the liver. The gallbladder stores the bile secreted by the liver. It will release the bile into the intestines to assist with digestion of proteins and fats in your meals. 80-90% percent of adults have some gallstones, but have no symptoms of them. More women have gallbladder problems than men because of the hormone estrogen. Only 1-3 percent of the population has gallbladder disease. The stones or the sludge blocks the duct which causes abdominal pain. The abdominal pain can be slight or severe depending on how many stones you have, where the stones are located, and the sizes of the stones. Smaller stones cause more problems than larger stones. Smaller stones can get stuck in the ducts.   Infection develops in 20 percent of people with gallbladder disease.  Refusing to remove your gallbladder can cause major medical problems including: gangrene or perforation of the gallbladder. Both of these are life threatening conditions.

Gallbladder surgery is the most popular surgery in the United States. Doctors remove the gallbladder laparoscopic rather than opening up the abdomen most of the time. The recovery time for a laparoscopy surgery is one to two week instead of six weeks for the open procedure. Typically it is done as an outpatient operation unless you have other medical conditions that may complicate the surgery or recovery time.

The symptom of gallbladder disease:

• Upper right abdominal pain close to your rib cage which can radiate to the upper back.

• Back pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• Vomiting after eating

• No relief from pain after taking pain relievers, passing gas or repositioning yourself. .

• Belching or acid reflux

• Bloating

• Fever and chills

Gallbladder surgery takes about 20 minutes laparoscopic. During the surgery you are put to sleep by an ansethologist and then the doctor does the surgery after the necessary preparation is done. You are usually in recover for one hour then to a holding room for several hours before going home. At times you may be admitted if you have a medical condition that may complicate the surgery. Make sure you tell your doctor about any existing medical conditions. The ansethologist t needs to know so that he/she knows what medication to give you to put you to sleep or to relax your body during the surgery. Remember your life is in your hands as much as your doctors if you fail to inform them of any preexisting medical conditions.

This information does not take the place of visiting a doctor’s office. Please consult a doctor for further information as this is only for informational purposes.