Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder malady includes inflammation, infection, stones, or obstruction of the bladder. The bladder could be a sac settled below the liver. It stores and concentrates the digestive fluid made within the liver. digestive fluid aids in the digestion of fats and is free from the bladder into the higher bowel in response to food (especially fat). sorts of bladder malady include: Inflammation causes the bulk of bladder diseases because of irritation of the bladder walls, referred to as inflammation. This inflammation is usually caused by stones that block the ducts resulting in the tiny viscus and causing digestive fluid to gather. this may eventually result in gangrene (tissue destruction) or gangrene. Gallbladder Disease

Stones home in size from a grain of sand to as giant as a ball. Some folks develop just one stone, whereas others develop many stones at constant times. bladder malady will begin in your bladder itself or within the digestive fluid ducts connected thereto. Any infection or blockage in these ducts will cause your bladder to keep a copy. as a result of the digestive fluid ducts connecting your bladder to different organs in your system, bladder malady will have an effect on these different organs additionally. In most cases, stones interfere with the duct from the bladder causing inflammation. Gallbladder Disease

This leads to a buildup of digestive fluid that may cause inflammation. different causes of inflammation embody epithelial duct issues, tumors, serious diseases, and bound infections. Gallbladder Disease

Types of Gallbladder Disease

There are many types of gallbladder disease.

Stone

Gallstones form when substances in the bile (such as cholesterol, bile salts, and calcium) or substances from the blood (such as bilirubin) form hard particles that block the passage of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones also form when the gallbladder is not completely empty or often enough. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball.

Several factors contribute to your risk of gallstones. These include:

1. Being overweight or obese
2. Having diabetes
3. Being 60 years or older
4. Taking medications containing estrogen
5. Having a family history of gallstones
6. Being a woman
7. Crohn’s disease and other conditions affect the way nutrients are absorbed.
8. Cirrhosis or other liver diseases

Cholecystitis

It presents itself as acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder.

Acute cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis is usually caused by gallstones. But it can also be the result of a tumor or various other diseases.

It may present with pain in the upper right or upper middle part of the abdomen. The pain occurs immediately after eating and can range from a sharp pain to a dull ache that may radiate to your right shoulder. Acute cholecystitis can also cause:

1. fever
2. Nausea
3. vomit
4. Jaundice

Chronic cholecystitis

After several attacks of acute cholecystitis, the gallbladder may shrink and lose its ability to store and excrete bile. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may occur.

Choledocholithiasis

Stones can accumulate in the neck of the gallbladder or in the bile ducts. When the gallbladder is blocked in this way, bile cannot flow out. This can cause the gallbladder to become swollen or enlarged.

Clogged bile ducts will further prevent bile from moving from the liver to the intestines. Choledocholithiasis can cause:

1. fever
2. It’s getting cold
3. Nausea
4. vomit
5. Jaundice
6. Yellow- or clay-colored stools

Acalculous gallbladder disease

Having a significant chronic disease or serious medical condition has been shown to trigger an episode.

Symptoms are similar to acute cholecystitis with gallstones.

1. Severe physical trauma
2. Heart surgery
3. Abdominal surgery
4. Severe burns
5. Autoimmune conditions such as lupus
6. Bloodstream infections
7. Receiving nutrition intravenously (IV)
8. Major bacterial or viral diseases

Biliary dyskinesia

Symptoms may include upper abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and indigestion after eating. Eating fatty foods can trigger symptoms. There are usually no stones in the gallbladder with biliary dyskinesia.

This test measures gallbladder function. If the gallbladder can only excrete 35 to 40 percent of its contents or less, a diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia is usually made.

Sclerosing cholangitis

Continued inflammation and damage to the bile duct system can lead to scarring. This condition is called sclerosing cholangitis.

About half of people with this condition have no symptoms. If symptoms occur, they may include:

1. fever
2. Jaundice
3. itchy
4. Upper abdominal pain.

About 60 to 80 percent of people with this condition also have ulcerative colitis, according to reliable sources. Being in this condition also increases the risk of liver cancer.

Medicines that suppress the immune system and those that help break down bile may help manage symptoms.

Gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a relatively rare disease. There are different types of gallbladder cancer. They can be difficult to treat because they are not diagnosed until late in the course of the disease.

Gallbladder cancer may have symptoms similar to acute cholecystitis but may have no symptoms at all.

Gallbladder polyps
However, removal of the gallbladder is often recommended for polyps larger than 1 cm. They are more likely to develop cancer.

Risk Factors

If you have gallstones, you are more likely to have gallbladder disease. Risk factors include:

High cholesterol diet. Cholesterol stones, which are formed from excess cholesterol in the gallbladder, are the most common type.
Overweight and obesity. Being overweight causes your body to produce more cholesterol – especially if you have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.
Age above 60 years. Gallstones are more common in people over the age of 60, probably because they have had more time to accumulate excess bile products.
Assigned female sex. Excess estrogen, especially during pregnancy, raises cholesterol and slows gallbladder emptying. Gallbladder Disease
Family history of gallbladder disease. About 25% of gallbladder diseases can be hereditary. Scientists have identified about twelve different genes that may be involved.
Native American or Mexican American heritage. These breeds have a 30% to 70% chance of developing gallstones, possibly as a result of both dietary and genetic factors.
Diabetes. People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to develop gallstones, possibly due to high fatty acid intake.
Crohn’s disease. People with Crohn’s disease are twice as likely to develop gallstones because the gallbladder is less able to absorb salts, which help the gallbladder break down cholesterol.
Cirrhosis of the liver. This late liver disease can slow the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder, causing the accumulation.
Sickle cell disease. This condition causes bilirubin to accumulate in the gallbladder, resulting in the less common pigmented type of gallstone.
Total parenteral nutrition. People who have to be fed intravenously for medical reasons are at risk of developing bile in the gallbladder due to a lack of activity in the digestive system.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs lower cholesterol in the blood but cause it to accumulate in the gallbladder.

Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease

About 90 percent of gallstones cause no symptoms. There is a very low chance (2%) of developing pain in the first 10 years after stone formation. After 10 years, the likelihood of developing symptoms decreases. On average, it takes about 8 years for symptoms to develop. The reason for the reduction in symptoms after age 10 is unknown, although some doctors believe that “small,” smaller stones may cause more symptoms than larger, older ones. Acalculous gallbladder disease often causes symptoms similar to gallstones.

1. Pain in the upper part of your abdomen, often on the right side, under your ribs
2. Pain in your right shoulder or back
3. Stomach upset
4. vomit

Other digestive problems include indigestion, heartburn, and gas

See your doctor or go to the hospital if you have signs of a serious infection or inflammation:

1. Abdominal pain that lasts for several hours.
2. Fever and chills.
3. Yellow skin or eyes
4. Dark urine and light-colored stools

Complications

Stones that do not cause symptoms rarely cause problems. Death, even from symptomatic stones, is rare. Serious complications are also rare. If this happens, complications usually develop after gallstones or surgery.

However, stones can cause obstruction at any time along the ducts that carry the bile. In such cases, symptoms may develop.

1. In most cases of obstruction, stones block the cystic duct, which leads from the gallbladder to the common bile duct. It can cause pain (biliary colic), infection and inflammation (acute cholecystitis), or both.
2. About 10% of patients with symptomatic gallstones also have gallstones that obstruct the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis).

Prevention

Diet can play a role in gallstones. Specific dietary factors may include:

1. Fat. Although fats (especially saturated fats found in meat, butter, and other animal products) are associated with stone attacks, some studies have found a lower risk of stones in people who eat foods high in monounsaturated fats. (found in olive and canola oils) or omega-3 fatty acids (found in canola, flaxseed, and fish oils). Fish oil may be particularly beneficial in patients with high triglyceride levels because it improves the emptying of the gallbladder.
2. fiber. High fiber intake has been linked to a lower risk of gallstones.
3. Nuts Studies show that people may be able to reduce the risk of gallstones by eating more nuts (peanuts and tree nuts, such as walnuts and almonds).
4. fruits and vegetables. People who eat more fruits and vegetables may have a lower risk of developing symptomatic stones that require gallbladder removal.
5. Vitamin C. In women, higher levels of vitamin C have been statistically associated with a lower prevalence of clinical gall bladder disease.
6. Sugar. High sugar intake has been linked to an increased risk of gallstones. Foods high in carbohydrates (such as pasta and bread) may also increase the risk because carbohydrates are converted to sugar in the body.
7. A lot of research shows that drinking coffee daily reduces the risk of gallstones. The caffeine in coffee is thought to stimulate the gallbladder to contract and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the bile. However, drinking other caffeinated beverages, such as soda and tea, does not seem to have the same benefits. Gallbladder Disease

Causes of Gallbladder Disease

Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes gallstones, but they can occur when:

1. You have too much cholesterol in your bile. Your body needs bile for digestion. It usually dissolves cholesterol. But when it can’t, excess cholesterol can lead to gallstones.
2. You have too much bilirubin in your bile. Conditions such as cirrhosis, infections, and blood disorders can cause your liver to make too much bilirubin.
3. Your gallbladder doesn’t always empty. This can make your bile very concentrated.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical examination and may order tests, including:

Blood tests. These check for signs of infection or obstruction and rule out other conditions.

Ultrasound This makes pictures of the inside of your body.

CT scan. Special X-rays allow your doctor to see inside your body, including your gallbladder.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). This test uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to create images of the inside of your body, including your liver and gallbladder.

Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan). This test can check if your gallbladder is pumping properly. Your doctor injects a harmless radioactive substance that reaches the organ. A technician can then observe its movement.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Your doctor runs a tube called an endoscope from your mouth to your small intestine. They inject a dye so that they can see your bile ducts on the camera in the endoscope. They can often remove any stones that have moved into the ducts.

Endoscopic ultrasound. This test looks for stones by combining ultrasound and endoscopy.

Treatment of Gallbladder Disease

If you have no symptoms, you do not need treatment. Some small stones can pass through your body on their own.

Most people with gallstones have their gallbladders removed. You can digest food without it. Your doctor will use one of two methods.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is the most common stone surgery. Your doctor passes a narrow tube called a laparoscope through a small cut into your abdomen. It has instruments, a light, and a camera. They take your gallbladder out through another small cut. You will usually go home the same day.

Open cholecystectomy. Your doctor makes a large incision in your abdomen to remove your gallbladder. After that, you will stay in the hospital for a few days.

If the stones are in your bile ducts, your doctor may use an ERCP to find and remove them before or during surgery.

If you have another medical condition and your doctor thinks you shouldn’t have surgery, they may give you medicine instead. Chenodiol (Chenodo l) and ursodiol (Actigall, Urso 250, Urso Forte) dissolve cholesterol stones. They can cause mild diarrhea.

It may take you years of medication to completely dissolve the stones, and they may come back after you stop taking them. Gallbladder Disease