Gallbladder disease is any condition that worsens the condition of your Gallbladder. A little organ in your digestive tract is your gallbladder. It retains some of the bile your liver produces and transports it to your small intestine to aid in the digestion of food there. Using a network of tubes known as bile ducts, it does this.

The bile ducts that link to your gallbladder or the gallbladder may be where the disease first manifests. Your gallbladder may back up due to any illness or obstruction in these ducts. Gallbladder illness can also affects the other digestive system organs connected to your gallbladder by the bile ducts.

Numerous gallbladder conditions and consequences could necessitate medical attention, including gallbladder surgery in Miami. Make an appointment with Dr. Luciano Fiszer for a diagnosis and treatment if you experience any of the below symptoms.

What Conditions Have an Impact on the Gallbladder?

Among the conditions affecting the gallbladder are the following:

Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)
Though they don’t always result in issues, gallstones are the most typical cause of gallbladder issues. When your gallbladder produces too much bile, mainly cholesterol, the excess bile forms lumps that can expand and aggregate to become gallstones. Gallstones can exist without causing any symptoms for a long time. Yet they can become a concern if they obstruct the bile’s flow in the gallbladder or bile ducts.

Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder is referred to as cholecystitis. Below the liver is a little, pear-shaped organ called the gallbladder on the right side of the abdomen. The small intestine receives bile, a digesting fluid stored in the gallbladder.

Most frequently, cholecystitis is brought on by gallstones clogging the tube that empties the gallbladder. As a result, bile might accumulate and irritate the area. In addition, tumors, severe illnesses, and specific infections can also result in cholecystitis. If not addressed, cholecystitis can cause severe, occasionally fatal complications, like gallbladder rupture. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is a common component of cholecystitis treatment.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic illness that impacts the liver and gallbladder. The bile ducts are gradually damaged by this illness, which causes inflammation and scarring. The liver may stop working as scar tissue accumulates. Delaying therapy can result in liver failure even though patients may go years without displaying any symptoms. The bile ducts may become scarred and narrowed due to chronic cholangitis (biliary stricture). Your gallbladder and liver may experience bile buildup as a result.

Gallbladder Cancer
It is relatively uncommon to have gallbladder cancer. There is an extreme possibility of curing gallbladder cancer if it is found in its earliest stages. Gallbladder malignancies can take many distinct forms. Often, they aren’t discovered until the disease has already advanced far enough to make them challenging to treat. Gallstones frequently increase the risk of gallbladder cancer.

The liver, lymph nodes, and other organs can all be affected by the spread of gallbladder cancer from the inner walls of the gallbladder to its outer layers. Acute cholecystitis symptoms and gallbladder cancer symptoms can be similar or completely different.

Gangrene (Death of Gallbladder Tissue)
Gallbladder tissue may degenerate if cholecystitis is left untreated (gangrene). It is the most frequent problem, particularly in the elderly, those who put off seeking treatment, and those with diabetes. Your gallbladder might rip due to this, or it might burst.

What Are Medical Tests Used To Identify Gallstones by Medical Professionals?
Gallstones can be diagnosed by medical experts using lab or imaging procedures.

Laboratory Tests
A medical professional may draw your blood and send it to a lab for analysis. The gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or bile ducts may all exhibit symptoms of infection or inflammation when the blood test is performed.

Imaging Procedures
There are several imaging procedures used to identify gallbladder issues.

An Ultrasound
The majority of patients who have gallbladder issues have this diagnostic procedure. Even though it is highly good at detecting even little gallstones, cholecystitis is not always easy to identify (gallbladder inflammation).

X-ray
If your doctor suspects gas buildup, crystallized gallstones, or concerns about your gallbladder’s integrity, they may ask you to take an x-ray. In addition to an x-ray, you could need further testing. Getting an x-ray can involve a variety of steps. For the X-ray to produce a more accurate image of the gallbladder, you might occasionally need to consume an agent called iopanoic acid or receive it by injection.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Gallstones in the bile ducts may be scanned using an MRI machine. This scan uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to provide precise images of the body’s interior.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Signs of gallbladder disease, such as enlargement of the gallbladder wall or fat stranding, may also be detected during an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. It can be beneficial for diagnosing uncommon, life-threatening acute cholecystitis complications such as gallbladder perforation or emphysematous cholecystitis.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
ERCP combines upper gastro endoscopy with fluoroscopic X-rays to better see the bile ducts. Your doctor can immediately treat a blockage if the test shows one by putting tiny devices through the endoscope. With the aid of ERCP, the medical professional locates the damaged bile duct and the gallstones.

This test is more intrusive than others or places more equipment within your body. Physicians utilize it judiciously, typically to remove a gallstone lodged in the common bile duct.

Get in Touch With Dr. Fiszer at Elite Surgical Miami for Laparoscopic Surgery
Surgery may be necessary as part of a complete care plan for urgent situations or more severe gallbladder problems. Dr. Fiszer performs various gallbladder procedures, including cholecystectomy, which involves removing the gallbladder through a series of small incisions while utilizing a camera and lengthy equipment, as well as open or minimally invasive robotic surgery in place of a scope.

The recovery and resumption of routine activities, including employment, are relatively quick because no significant wounds are created. You can make an appointment with Dr. Fiszer to discuss treatment options if you experience these symptoms or have been told you have gallstones.

The post What Exactly Is Gallbladder Disease? first appeared on Elite Surgical Miami | General, Reflux, & Bariatric Surgeon.