Gall Bladder

The gallbladder is located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It ensures that the bile produced by the liver is stored and released in the right amount at the right time. After the food we eat is broken down in the stomach, it is ground with the help of bile and becomes ready for digestion.

How will I know if there is a problem?

When stones, mud or any other problem occur in the gallbladder, it becomes unable to fully perform its task. After meals, pain, indigestion, swelling and nausea can be seen in the upper right part of the abdomen. Since these complaints can also be seen in the presence of gastritis and ulcers in the stomach, the first thing to do is to consult a physician to understand whether the problem is due to the stomach or the gall bladder.

How are gallstones formed? Do I need surgery immediately?

Gallstones are usually made up of elements called cholesterol, calcium, and bilirubin. They can be found in the sac or directly in the bile ducts. Both family predisposition and what we eat play a role in its formation. It is more common in women than in men. Obesity, estrogen therapy, rapid weight loss, diabetes and some blood diseases increase the risk of gallstones.

In the presence of complaints such as abdominal pain, bloating, and pain, mud or gallstones can be detected in the gallbladder by ultrasonography to be performed on the abdomen. The gallstones or mud that do not cause you discomfort do not need to be operated immediately. However, if the gallbladder is inflamed and causes you to go to the hospital with severe pain and fever (acute cholecystitis), it is beneficial to remove it without causing any bigger problems. If the patient has a history of diabetes or the use of immunosuppressive drugs, early surgery may be necessary, as acute cholecystitis attacks may be more severe. In addition, there are patients who need surgery on the incidentally detected gallstones without any complaints. If;

• The patient is in the child age group,
• The patient has sickle cell anemia,
• The gallstone is larger than 5 cm in the examination,
• There is calcification on the wall of the bladder, the gallbladder must be removed immediately.

If gallbladder polyps are larger than 1 cm, they are removed due to the risk of transformation into cancer. Polyps smaller than one cm are monitored intermittently, but do not require surgery.

How does gallbladder inflammation occur?

The bile accumulated in the sac is emptied into the digestive system with the help of a thin channel after meals. If the mouth of this channel is clogged with stones or mud, the bile in the sac cannot flow and bacteria form in the sac just like algae in stagnant water. When inflammation occurs, if the patient is admitted to the hospital in the early period, it is urgently operated. In patients who go to the hospital after the first 48 hours, the treatment, generally referred to as cooling therapy, where oral nutrition is stopped, and antibiotics and other drugs are administered intravenously. In diabetic patients, it is not preferred to wait, as gall bladder gangrene may occur unnoticed.

How is the surgery done?

Surgery is now routinely performed as closed surgery (laparoscopic). The operation is performed by entering the abdomen with 3 incisions of 5 mm and 1 incision of 1 cm. After the operation, the patient is hospitalized for 1 night and discharged the next day.

How should my diet be after surgery?

In the early period after surgery, it is necessary to avoid fatty and spicy foods until the body gets used to life without gallstones. Although this period varies from person to person, it is usually between 2 weeks and 6 months. During this period, foods rich in protein should be preferred.