Reasons to remove a gallbladder

Most of us know someone who has had to have their gallbladder removed. The most common explanation that these people usually give is that they suffered from very heavy digestion or because they had very intense pain. The reality is that there are several alterations of the gallbladder that require its removal, and the symptoms mentioned above are certainly the main reasons for deciding to undergo cholecystectomy.

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ below the liver that stores bile produced by the liver for the digestion of fatty foods. Both are connected to the small intestine by the common bile duct. During digestion of food in the intestine, the gallbladder releases bile through this duct, assisting, as mentioned above, in the digestion of fatty foods.

The gallbladder is an organ located on the right side of our abdomen, below the liver, whose function is to store and distribute bile.

As we have seen, the function of the gallbladder is important, but it is not essential for life. For this reason, many gallbladder-related problems can be solved by removing the gallbladder through cholecystectomy.

Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the gallbladder when it is damaged, usually by a condition related to the development of stones inside the organ or in its ducts. Therefore, the purpose of this operation is to prevent damage to the gallbladder from worsening and affecting other organs, such as the liver.

Cholecystectomy can be performed by laparoscopy or by open surgery, the conventional method.

This type of surgery can be performed using two surgical techniques: conventional, open surgery, or laparoscopic, also known as the minimally invasive technique. 

Both surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia and last approximately 1 hour.

The main difference between the techniques by which the gallbladder can be removed is the recovery time:

• After laparoscopic cholecystectomy you will have to stay just 1 day in hospital and you will achieve full results after 5 - 10 days.
• After an open cholecystectomy, you will have to stay in hospital for at least the next 3 days. As for full recovery, you will need to rest for 4 - 6 weeks after the conventional operation.

Now that we know what the gallbladder is and how it is treated when it is damaged, we explain the reasons or damage that results in the need for a cholecystectomy. We explain them in detail in the following section.

As we have been saying, the gallbladder is an important organ for the correct functioning of our organism, but it is not essential, so when it suffers a problem such as the development of symptomatic gallstones, the treatment that ensures the success of eliminating the problem is, generally, cholecystectomy. 

Below you can find the main reasons (conditions) why gallbladder removal is recommended:

• Gallstones. These are deposits of crystals that can form in both the gallbladder and the bile ducts. They are what we would commonly call "gallstones". In 85% of cases, gallstones are composed of cholesterol, but they can also be made up of calcium salts or bilirubin. Many adults are carriers of asymptomatic stones that are sometimes discovered during a routine examination (ultrasound) for another reason. If the stones are asymptomatic, the recommendation is to wait. Cholecystectomy is only recommended in case of symptoms.
• Gallstones in the gallbladder. If they cause repeated attacks of pain despite dietary changes, doctors usually advise removal of the gallbladder by a process called cholecystectomy, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy being the most commonly used today.

Removing the gallbladder eliminates the chances of recurrence of cholelithiasis.

• Bile duct stones. These are stones that appear in the bile ducts and can cause serious problems. For this reason, they need to be removed by a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which involves inserting an endoscopic tube through the digestive tract until it reaches the small intestine, where it will solve the problem and remove the stones from the ducts through the sphincter of Oddi (where bile enters the intestine from the gallbladder).
• Acute cholecystitis. It consists of inflammation of the gallbladder wall, usually caused by blockage of the cystic duct by a gallstone, causing acute pain (colic) in the abdominal area. Almost 100% of people suffering from acute cholecystitis have gallstones, the rarest cases being caused by bacterial infection. This condition is severe, requiring urgent treatment with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and analgesics and proceeding to cholecystectomy when the patient is stabilised.
• Other conditions. Other problems arising in the gallbladder or bile ducts include chronic cholecystitis, which is inflammation of the gallbladder over a long period of time causing repeated attacks of severe, acute abdominal pain. Less common are tumours of the gallbladder and bile ducts.

As discussed above, the most common cause for gallbladder removal is gallstones. Gallstones are more common among older adults, women and overweight people.

Cholecystectomy improves the quality of life of people who have suffered for a long time from heavy digestion and severe colicky pain. For this reason, the operation should not be delayed excessively. Nowadays, this operation is performed using minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

If you are considering a cholecystectomy to solve your gallstone problems, click on the image below to request an immediate surgical assessment consultation with our specialists in your city.

You can also contact our patient service department by calling at +34 91 141 33 56 or by filling in the contact form so that we can call you to make an appointment with the specialist.