Facts About Your Gallbladder...

Gallbladder Basics

• The gallbladder is a small organ located in the right side of the abdomen under the liver. It is connected to the liver and intestines by small tubes called bile ducts. The main purpose of the gallbladder is to store a fluid called bile. Bile is a greenish-brown fluid that is made by the liver and helps your body absorb fatty foods and vitamins. After eating, the gallbladder squeezes bile into the intestines to help with digestion.
• Some people form gallstones in the gallbladder. Gallstones form when cholesterol or bile in the gallbladder hardens. Over 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with gallstones every year. In some cases, these gallstones can cause pain or other complications and must be treated. Gallstones are usually found by doctors using an ultrasound or a CT scan after you have symptoms.
• If a gallstone blocks the opening of the gallbladder, the gallbladder can become infected causing fevers and constant pain. When the gallbladder is infected, it is called cholecystitis. Gallstones can also leave the gallbladder and block the bile ducts coming from the gallbladder. This can cause yellowing of the skin and eyes, an infection of the bile ducts or inflammation of the pancreas.
• If there are stones in the bile duct, some people need a procedure to remove the stones from the bile duct. When people have symptoms from gallstones, this usually gets worse over time. Most of the time someone has symptoms from gallstones, an operation is the best treatment. Gallbladder removal is one of the most common operations performed by general surgeons. During this operation, the whole gallbladder is removed, not just the stones.