The gallbladder:- • Is a pear shaped organ • Is situated under the liver in the abdomen • Stores bile (a mixture of fluids, fat and cholesterol) • Helps vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed easily into the blood
Gallbladder Problems – Symptoms • Pain – Usually occurs in the upper abdomen – Could be mild and infrequent or severe and frequent – Pain may radiate to the back and chest • Nausea or Vomiting • Acid reflux and gas • Fever or Chills (usually sign of an infection) • Chronic Diarrhea (More than four bowel movements a day, continuously for weeks) • Jaundice • Unusual Stools or Urine – Stools will be light in colour – Urine will be dark and yellow – Usually a symptom of bile duct blocks
Gallbladder Diseases • Cholecystitis- Is the inflammation of the gallbladder(can be acute or chronic) • Gallstones- Small, hard deposits, usually harmless, but if infected can cause inflammation and pain • Choledocholithiasis – Common bile duct stones which occur in the tube that joins the gall bladder to the intestines.
Infection can cause Pain and Inflammation • Acalculous gallbladder disease – Similar symptoms as gallstones but there is an absence of gallstones • Bile duct infection – Common bile duct stones cause infection in the bile duct channel. May need emergency treatment • Abscess of the Gallbladder – Gallstones infect gallbladder causing pus (empyema) Causes severe abdominal pain. Needs immediate attention • Gallstone Ileus – Gallstones move into the intestine blocking it. Prevalent among the elderly • Perforated Gallbladder – Occurs when gallstones are not treated for too long. Perforates the gallbladder. Can be fatal since infection will spread quickly • Gallbladder Polyps – Growths in the gallbladder which can be benign. Not dangerous, but larger ones may have to be removed • Porcelain Gallbladders – Calcium deposits stiffen the walls of the gallbladder, making them rigid. • Gallbladder Cancer – Is rare but can spread fast if undetected
Comment:*
Nickname*
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
