Overview and Function of the Gallbladder

The Essentials

At Living Proof Institute, we wish to provide you with basic knowledge of the gallbladder and its function, some of the terms may seem a bit technical, but rest assured, by the time you have finished exploring this website, most of these terms will become familiar and you will gain valuable understanding so you make knowledgeable decisions regarding your treatment options.

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The Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped, hollow structure located under the liver and on the right side of the abdomen. Its primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-brown digestive liquid produced by the liver. The gallbladder is part of the biliary tract. The gallbladder serves as a reservoir for bile that is not immediately used for digestion. When food enters the small intestine, a hormone called cholecystokinin is released, signaling the gallbladder to contract and send bile into the small intestine through the common bile duct. The bile helps the digestive process by emulsifying fats and neutralizing acids in partially-digested food. An excess of cholesterol, bilirubin or bile salts can cause gallstones to form. Gallstones are small, hard deposits inside the gallbladder that are formed when the stored bile crystallizes.  A person with gallstones will rarely feel any symptoms until the gallstones reach a certain size, or if the gallstone obstructs the bile duct.  Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the most common way to treat gallstones.  It is believed by many physicians that the gallbladder is not absolutely necessary for health and survival, as bile can reach the small intestine in other ways.

Common Problems

Some problems associated with the gallbladder are gallstones, gallbladder attack and gallbladder disease. Gallbladder pain is usually caused by biliary colic, gallstones, cholecystitis, pancreatitis and cholangitis.

Gallstones

Gallstones are solidified particles of substances in the bile. They are made of a combination of bile salts, cholesterol and bilirubin, and can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.  

Gallstones can be painful, and cause obstruction, depending on where the obstruction is, it causes a variety of problems: gallbladder obstruction (cholecystitis), biliary tree obstruction (jaundice) and pancreatic duct obstruction (pancreatitis).  Gallstones can block the gallbladder ducts so that bile cannot reach the small intestine as effectively, which may prevent the gallbladder from doing its job and can lead to other gallbladder diseases.  While most gallstones pass on their own, some require a minor procedure or even surgery.  

Gallstones can cause sudden pain that is called a gallbladder attack, usually the result of the gallstone blocking the bile ducts, increasing pressure in the gallbladder. They usually occur soon after eating, especially heavy meals. These attacks can last from one to several hours or as little as several minutes. Symptoms of a gallbladder attack include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and pain primarily in the upper right side of the abdomen. Pain may be acute or dull, and may be accompanied by jaundice.  

Gallbladder disease

There are several types of gallbladder disease:

Cholecystitis is the most common type of gallbladder disease, it is an inflammation of the gallbladder caused by gallstones obstructing the ducts to the small intestine. In addition to upper right abdominal pain, symptoms include fever, sensitivity in the abdominal area, nausea and vomiting.  Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms, this can often be managed by rest and antibiotics, but for severe cases, surgery is the definitive treatment for most physicians. 

After several attacks of pain, chronic cholecystitis may occur. This involves the gallbladder shrinking and losing its function.

Choledocholithiasis is the presence of at least one gallstone in the common bile duct, it can block the flow of bile and cause the gallbladder to become inflamed.

Acalculous gallbladder disease occurs without the presence of gallstones, when the gallbladder muscles or valve are not working correctly, and is often found in patients who are suffering from other serious disorders.

Cholangitis is inflammation in the common bile duct. The most common cause is gallstones becoming lodged in the bile duct, though the condition can also be caused by bacterial infections, blockages caused by medical procedures, and tumors. 

Gallbladder cancer is relatively rare, and can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other gallbladder ailments (nausea, vomiting, jaundice, fever).

Gallbladder polyps are growths in the gallbladder that are usually harmless and carry no symptoms, but they can occasionally be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer.

Gangrene results from inadequate blood flow and can develop in the gallbladder if acute cholecystitis is left untreated. Symptoms include: confusion, fever, gas in tissues under the skin, feeling ill, low blood pressure and persistent pain. 

Abscesses occur when the gallbladder becomes inflamed with pus. Like gangrene, it can occur as a complication of acute cholecystitis.

Gallbladder surgery and removal

Doctors often recommend removing the gallbladder through surgery. If the problem does not involve gallstones, antibiotics are often the first treatment. But if the problem persists, the gallbladder will often be surgically removed.  

The most common and least invasive method of gallbladder removal is laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon makes three or four small holes in the belly, inserts a laparoscope — a long tube with a camera — and then removes the gallbladder with tiny surgical tools. 

If laparoscopic surgery cannot be performed, the doctor may remove the gallbladder through open abdominal surgery, both forms of surgery are done under general anesthesia.

At Living Proof Institute, we believe that removal of the Gallbladder is the last resort, not the first choice and there are other less invasive means to treat your symptoms and restore your health.  Begin with a consultation visit to learn more about our non-surgical options to resetting your gallbladder function.