The gallbladder's job is to secrete and store bile, which is made by the liver to help digest fats (Shutterstock)
Amman -
Gallbladder diseases affect large numbers of people, which sometimes leads to their removal. They are among the common diseases that affect the digestive system. When should they be removed? What are its complications?
What is gallbladder?
Dr. Rufaida Al-Asasfeh, an internal medicine specialist at Karak Jordanian Governmental Hospital, explains that the gallbladder is a small organ located on the right side of the abdomen, and its mission is to secrete and store bile made by the liver to help digest fats.
She added, in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, that gallbladder diseases affect about 20% of people, and thus they are one of the group of common diseases that affect the digestive system, which are more common among females than among males.
Al-Asasfeh pointed out that the risk of developing gallbladder diseases increases in both sexes with age, as well as in the case of imbalances in the level of blood fats, excessive obesity, taking birth control pills, and following an unhealthy diet, and then the gallbladder may be exposed to many health problems that cause the patient to develop symptoms. These include: acute or chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, or stones in the bile duct.
Symptoms of a problem inside the gallbladder
Consultant in General and Endoscopic Surgery, Dr. Ihab Totah, explains that the gallbladder is a storehouse for the collection of bile that helps in digestion processes, and it may suffer from several diseases, including the formation of stones inside the gallbladder, which are usually in different shapes and types, including large and small.
He added, in statements to Al Jazeera Net, that symptoms of a problem inside the gallbladder appear in the form of pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, and may move to the back or to the shoulder.
What are the reasons for removing the gallbladder?
Dr. Al-Asasfeh explains that the main reason for removing the gallbladder is the presence of stones. If the stones do not cause any symptoms, there is no need to perform an operation to remove them, as the patient needs this if one of the stones blocks the bile ducts, which causes severe abdominal pain that lasts for several hours.
Complications of neglecting treatment of gallstones
Dr. Al-Asasfeh points out the importance of not neglecting the treatment of gallstones because leaving them may cause more serious problems, including:
Cholecystitis.
pancreatitis.
Inflammation of the bile duct.
Diagnosis of gallbladder
Dr. Totah explains that the diagnosis of the gallbladder is made through laboratory tests and the necessary television images, and in some cases there is a need for magnetic resonance images of the bile ducts and liver to determine what the problem is in the gallbladder or bile ducts, such as the presence of stones inside them, fleshy bumps, or acute or chronic inflammation. In which.
He explained that in most cases the patient recovers without any complications or problems after the operation.
Surgical work
Dr. Totah explains that the gallbladder is usually removed laparoscopically through three or four small holes in the abdominal wall, as the procedure is easy and simple, and the patient recovers faster compared to removing it surgically, that is, the classic method.
He pointed out that some people experience some symptoms after the operation, such as indigestion or diarrhea, and this is a result of the body not being prepared for the amounts of bile produced by the liver, and here they are given medications to help relieve diarrhea.
After the operation
Dr. Al-Asasfeh believes that symptoms usually continue after the operation for several months, and are somewhat mild, but if symptoms appear continuously, we recommend visiting a doctor to undergo a new procedure to remove the remaining stones or prescribe a medication to relieve the symptoms, as the liver continues to produce enough juice. Bile is used to help digest food, but it will not be stored in the same way.
She added that when eating meals, the small intestine will depend entirely on the liver to produce more bile, and although the liver adapts to these changes over time, it will face difficulty in digesting some foods at first, and the digestion process usually returns to normal afterward. About a month after surgery, the person will be able to eat foods again without disturbing symptoms.
The gallbladder is a small organ located on the right side of the abdomen (pixabay)
Tips after gallbladder removal
Dr. Al-Asasfeh advises patients to follow the following instructions after cholecystectomy:
Eat gradually, and it is necessary to adhere to eating foods full of fiber and avoid fats.
Movement: walking short distances, avoiding driving for a period of 3 to 5 days, and avoiding carrying heavy objects.
Medications: Adherence to the medications prescribed by the doctor after the operation.
Pain: The patient may suffer from muscle pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and he may also suffer from pain in the right shoulder due to the carbon dioxide substance used to inflate the abdominal area, and these symptoms disappear within days.
Sleeping: After gallstone removal surgery, sleeping may be difficult due to pain, so it is recommended to take painkillers and avoid sleeping on the stomach.
Doctor review: The patient must commit to periodically reviewing the doctor after the operation.
Diet after cholecystectomy
Al-Asasfeh points out that in the first days after the operation, it is preferable to avoid solid food, eat liquids and soup, and add food gradually. The patient should also stay away from foods full of fat and eat foods rich in fiber.
She added that it is recommended to eat healthy foods and avoid foods rich in fat, as this protects the patient from gaining weight after gallbladder removal.
Source: Al Jazeera