Gallbladder disease

• Illustrations
• Alternative names
• Definition
• Causes, incidence, and risk factors
• Symptoms
• Signs and tests

• Treatment
• Expectations (prognosis)
• Complications
• Calling your health care provider
• Prevention

Alternative names    Return to top

Definition    Return to top

Gall bladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones, or obstruction of the gallbladder.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors    Return to top

The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Bile aids in the digestion of fats, and is released from the gallbladder into the upper small intestine (duodenum) in response to food (especially fats). Conditions which slow or obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.

Types of gallbladder disease include:

• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cholelithiasis (gall stones)

Symptoms    Return to top

• Abdominal fullness or gas
• Abdominal pain that is:
  • Severe
  • Located on the right side (right upper quadrant) or in the upper middle of the abdomen (epigastric)
  • Decreased over 12 to 18 hours in uncomplicated cases
  • Recurrent or similar to pain in past
  • Occuring after meals
  • Worse during deep intake of breath
  • Radiating to back or below the right shoulder blade
  • Worse after eating or drinking fatty foods or fluids
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn
• Chills and shaking
• Chest pain under the breastbone

Signs and tests    Return to top

Examination of the abdomen by touch (palpation) may reveal tenderness.

Tests that detect the presence of gallstones or inflammation include:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal x-ray
• Gall bladder radionuclide scan
• A CBC shows infection by an elevated white blood cell count

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Lipase
• Amylase
• Amylase, urine
• Chemistry panel (chem-20)

Treatment    Return to top

Treatment depends on the specific type of gallbladder disease.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

See the specific type of gallbladder disease.

Complications    Return to top

See the specific type of gallbladder disease.

Calling your health care provider    Return to top

Call your provider if you develop symptoms of gallbladder disease.

Prevention    Return to top

In most cases, prevention is not possible. Reducing intake of fatty foods and weight reduction may reduce symptoms in people with gallbladder disease. Use of the medicine ursodiol may shrink gallstones, but it is used only in special cases.