Gallbladder Problems

The gallbladder is a small organ beneath the liver that stores and concentrates bile, releasing it into the digestive tract to help break down fatty foods after a meal. Problems typically arise when gallstones form inside the gallbladder, usually as a result of an imbalance in the components of bile, most often excess cholesterol. Gallstones are extremely common and, in many people, cause no symptoms whatsoever, being discovered only incidentally during scans performed for other reasons. However, when a gallstone blocks the neck of the gallbladder or the bile duct, it can trigger sudden, severe pain, particularly after eating rich or fatty food, along with bloating, nausea or, in more serious cases, infection or jaundice. Because symptomatic gallstones tend to recur and can occasionally lead to complications such as inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, keyhole removal of the gallbladder is generally recommended once symptoms become established.