The gall bladder is a tiny organ in the abdomen which stores bile – a fluid produced by your liver to aid digestion. The fluid contains bile salts, cholesterol, fats, a small amount of protein and a pigment called bilirubin.
It is a vital organ, and should be kept healthy. A healthy gall bladder is essential to the deamination of protein and fats in your digestive system, so if it becomes damaged or inflamed, it can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain and jaundice.
Stones can form in the gall bladder or the duct that carries the bile from your gallbladder to your small intestine (common bile duct). The stones are made of a combination of cholesterol, bile salts and bilirubin. They can cause serious problems if they become blocked in the gallbladder or in the bile duct, especially when there is an infection.
Gallstones can develop in anyone. However, they are more common in people who have a high-fat diet or a family history of gallstones. It is also more likely for people to have gallstones if they are pregnant or have undergone weight loss, or if they have a family history of cancer.
Symptoms of gallstones are usually mild but may deteriorate over time. They can include an ache in the right upper abdomen which can radiate to the back or between your shoulder blades and which is more noticeable after eating fatty foods. This is known as biliary colic and can last for hours or days. It can be accompanied by gas, heartburn or indigestion and is not always easy to treat.
A doctor can diagnose a gallstone by doing an ultrasound scan or HIDA scan of the gall bladder and ducts. The test can show whether the gallbladder is enlarged, and whether it is working properly. Other tests such as blood and urine tests can also be used.
Surgery to remove the gall bladder can be performed, for example, with a laparoscopy. This is a very safe operation and the recovery times are very good. The surgery is often carried out by an experienced gynaecologist.
The operation can be done under general anaesthesia and patients are usually in hospital for a few days after the procedure. Afterwards, they can resume normal activities including work and exercise.
It is important to eat a low-fat diet before the surgery. A low-fat diet includes boiled vegetables, fruit, pasta which is oil free, grilled lean meat, skimmed milk and soya protein such as tofu.
During the operation, the surgeon will remove your gall bladder and any stones that are in it. The surgeon will also take out the bile duct that carries the bile out of your gall bladder.
Your doctor will explain to you how your body will be affected after the operation. In most cases, you can return to a normal diet within one or two weeks. You may need to restrict your dietary intake for a while after the operation because your body will be unable to digest fats efficiently.
