What is Gallbladder Disease?
Gallbladder disease is an umbrella term for several conditions affecting the gallbladder. Inflammation of the gallbladder wall (cholecystitis) is responsible for a majority of the gallbladder diseases. Diseases of the gallbladder include gallstones, gallbladder polyps, gallbladder cancer, and sclerosing cholangitis.
Causes of Gallbladder Disease
Most cases of cholecystitis are associated with the presence of stones in the gallbladder. Usually, gallstones do not cause any problem or symptoms, but may sometimes block the bile duct, trapping the bile in the gallbladder. The trapped bile causes inflammation of the walls of the gallbladder, leading to swelling and pain. The inflamed gallbladder may also become infected.
Rarely, cholecystitis occurs without the presence of gallstones. This type of acute cholecystitis is referred to as acalculous cholecystitis. It is a more serious form of cholecystitis and tends to occur with gallbladder injury during surgery, prolonged fasting, critical illnesses or when a problem with the immune system occurs.
Impact
Gallbladder diseases can impact your health significantly by causing severe abdominal pain and decreased quality of life.
Anatomy of Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a hollow pear-shaped organ that lies just below the liver. Its primary function is to store bile, a thick yellow-green liquid produced in the liver. Bile aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Stored bile drains out from the gallbladder into the common bile duct, which opens into the small intestine.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease leads to severe abdominal pain. The pain is felt on the right side of the upper abdomen and may travel to the back or right shoulder. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Diagnosis of Gallbladder Disease
Problems with the gallbladder are diagnosed by reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough physical examination. Your doctor may recommend X-ray imaging, abdominal ultrasound or nuclear scanning tests to detect the presence of gallstones which may be blocking the path of bile and thickening the gallbladder wall. Blood tests may be ordered to check for signs of infection, obstruction, and jaundice.
Treatments for Gallbladder Disease
When you experience multiple gallbladder episodes, a surgery called cholecystectomy is most often recommended. The surgery can be performed laparoscopically and robotically to remove the gallbladder.
Fortunately, the gallbladder is an organ you can live without. Gallbladder removal most often results in complete recovery and does not require a specific diet after the surgery.
Untreated Gallbladder Disease
If left untreated, the gallbladder becomes severely infected, causing some of the tissue to die and decay resulting in septicemia (blood poisoning), a life-threatening condition. In some cases, the gallbladder may even burst or an abnormal channel may develop between the gallbladder and gut due to the inflammation.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery
Gallbladder surgery is considered the standard of care for gallbladder disease treatment. Cholecystectomy surgery involves the removal of the gallbladder and is usually performed through laparoscopy or robotically, both minimally invasive options compared to open abdominal surgery which requires a long incision. In cases where gallstones are present inside the bile ducts, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) technique can be used during gallbladder surgery.
Preparation for Gallbladder Surgery
If tests show the gallbladder has severe inflammation, infection or scarring from other operations, the surgeon may perform open surgery to remove the gallbladder. In some cases, open surgery is planned; however, sometimes these problems are discovered during the laparoscopic procedure and the surgeon must make a larger incision in order to convert to open surgery.
Surgical Procedure
Cholecystectomy
Gallbladder surgery can be performed through a minimally invasive approach where your surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen. Through one of the incisions a laparoscope, a small fiber-optic tube with a tiny camera, is inserted. Through this approach, your surgeon will be able to view the surgery on a large screen. Cholangiography (X-ray of the bile duct) is performed to view the bile duct for any abnormalities. Special surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions to remove the gallbladder. If your surgeon finds stones in the bile duct, they can also be removed.
If tests show the gallbladder has severe inflammation, infection or scarring from other operations, the surgeon may perform open surgery to remove the gallbladder. In some cases, open surgery is planned; however, sometimes these problems are discovered during the laparoscopic procedure and the surgeon must make a larger incision in order to convert to open surgery.
Currently Dr. Ahmad and his team perform many laparoscopic cholecystectomies with robotic assist. This advanced technology allows the use of indocyanine green (ICG) to delineate the biliary anatomy. This technique is an advanced method that greatly minimizes the chances of bile duct injury even in patients with anomalies in the biliary system.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure performed to remove gallstones blocking the bile ducts. The ERCP technique involves swallowing a long, flexible tube with a light source and camera called an endoscope, which helps your surgeon view the operating site on a monitor. The endoscope reaches the small intestine through the stomach and the affected duct is located by releasing a special dye. Your surgeon cuts the affected duct with tiny instruments passed through the endoscope and captures the gallstones in a mesh basket, which is then removed along with the endoscope.
Benefits of Gallbladder Surgery
Laparoscopic/Robotic Cholecystectomy surgery requires minimal recovery time, shorter hospital stay, and you will experience less pain and discomfort after surgery, unlike traditional open surgery, which requires a longer hospital stay, recovery time and longer time to operate, and involves a larger scar.
Outcome
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure that provides relief to symptoms of gallbladder disease. However, as with any procedure, cholecystectomy may involve certain risks and complications such as bleeding, blood clots, wound infection, or injury to the bile duct, intestine and blood vessels.
After the procedure, you will be given specific instructions with regard to your diet. You are instructed to eat high fiber foods and drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to avoid problems related to bowel movements. To relieve pain, you will be given pain-relieving medications after surgery.
Care should be taken while dealing with your wound. Remember to wash your hands before touching the dressing, and avoid soaking in the bathtub until your stitches are removed. Wearing tight-fitting clothes is not recommended as they may rub against your incisions and interfere with the healing process. In about 4 to 6 weeks, your scars will become soft and gradually fade.
