The gallbladder is a small organ in the abdomen that stores bile. Bile is necessary to digest fat that people take with food.

Unlike other cancers, Gallbladder cancer is not very common. It is also treatable in the early stages. However, in most cases, Gallbladder Cancer is detected in late stages. At these stages, the chance of a recovery is remote. What makes early diagnosis uncommon is the absence of specific signs or symptoms.

However, there are some signs that people need to look out for.

Signs of Gallbladder Cancer

Though there are not many specific symptoms, following signs can indicate a broad range of abnormalities, including some cancers.

Pain in the upper right quadrant of abdomen

Bloating

Fever

Weight loss

A feeling of nausea

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (sign of jaundice)

Many of these symptoms may involve other organs or indicate completely different ailments. This is why people need to see the symptoms in light of other concomitant symptoms and gauge the seriousness of the problems. If a person feels that a particular symptom is not solely a gastrointestinal problem, rush to the doctor immediately.

Causes of Gallbladder Cancer

Causes of Gallbladder Cancer are not entirely clear. However, in most cases, cancer spreads from the glandular cells of the gallbladder. These cells are found in the inner body of the gallbladder. This is also known as Adenocarcinoma. Slowly, it spreads from the inner body to other organs of the body.

Risk Factors

Though the reasons for Gallbladder Cancer are not yet known, certainly there are some factors that exacerbate the risk:

Gender
More women than men suffer from Gallbladder Cancer.

Age
The risk of Gallbladder Cancer increases with age.

History of Gallbladder Stone
It has been observed that most of the Gallbladder Cancer patients have had a history of gallbladder stones. However, this does not mean that Gallbladder Cancer is common in people with a history of gallbladder stone.

Chronic gallbladder infection, gallbladder polyps, etc. can increase the risk of Gallbladder Cancer.

Stages of Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder Cancer is categorized into different stages in accordance with its spread:

Stage I
If cancer is confined within the glandular cells of gallbladder, it is put in this stage.

Stage II
If cancer has grown out of the inner layers and has invaded the outer layer of the organ, it is put in the second stage.

Stage III
If cancer has grown to such an extent as to invade nearby organs like liver, stomach, small intestine, etc., Gallbladder Cancer is put in this stage.

Stage IV
The last stage of Gallbladder Cancer is characterized by large tumors, taking into their fold multiple organs in the vicinity. Tumors may also spread to distant parts of the body.

Treatments of the Gallbladder Cancer

The treatments depend a lot on the stage of cancer and overall health. The primary goal is to remove the diseased gallbladder. It may also be possible to resect part of the liver and bile duct along with the gallbladder.

However, if that is not possible, doctors may need to resort to other therapies to prevent the disease from spreading. This may involve Radiation Therapy or Chemotherapy or a combination of both.

There are many treatments available for Gallbladder Cancer depending upon the severity of the cancer. This is why it is important to consult a doctor before opting for any treatment.

Gallbladder Cancer - Signs, Causes & Treatment Of It!

Surgery using a laparoscope is the most common way to remove the gallbladder. A laparoscope is a thin, lighted tube that lets the doctor see inside our belly. It is a minimally invasive surgery in which small incisions and specialized tools are used to remove a diseased or infected gallbladder.

The gallbladder is a small organ that sits right under the liver and is credited with bile storage, which can help the body in breaking down various kinds of fats that enter it. So, what all do you need to know about this operation? read this list.

Reasons for gallbladder operation
The gallbladder is not a very efficient organ. It can lead to blockages and choking as the bile it stores can become very thick and difficult to handle. Also, this bile can harbour deposits that are hard ball like substances, usually known as gallbladder stones. The size of these stones can vary from the size of a grain to the size of a golf ball. 

Further, these gallbladder stones can cause infections, which can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating and more. Another reason can also be the gallbladder disease known as chloelithiasis, which can cause abdominal pain. Inflammation in the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis, can lead to gallbladder open removal surgery.

Risk
While the gallbladder removal surgery is usually considered a safe one, with little or no complications, there are risks attached to this surgery too. These include sudden and excessive bleeding and the creation of blood clots, allergic reactions to the drugs used as well as anaesthesia, blood vessel damage, accelerated heart rate which leads to an increased risk of contracting a heart attack or heart disease, infections, inflammation or swelling in the pancreas, and injuries caused to the bile duct during surgery.

You might also need this type of surgery if you have the following:
1. Biliary dyskinesia, which occurs when the gallbladder doesn't fill or empty correctly due to a defect
2. Choledocholithiasis, which occurs when gallstones move to the bile duct and potentially cause a blockage that prevents the gallbladder from draining
3. Cholecystitis, which is an inflammation of the gallbladder
4. Pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas

Laparoscopic surgery is preferred over open cholecystectomy surgery because the smaller incisions that are made reduce your risk of infection, bleeding, and recovery time.

Preparation
To prepare for your gallbladder removal surgery, the doctor may ask you to have a prescription fluid so that your bowels are flushed clean. You may also be asked to fast for at least six hours before the surgery so that there is no hindrance to the same. Also, the use of an antibacterial soap to bathe is usually prescribed so that the risk of contracting infections decreases.

While this surgery can be a simple one, you will have to take due care after the surgery to ensure that the recovery is fast and virtually pain free.

All About Gallbladder Surgery

Any kind of injury on the surface of the skin is immediately noticed by us, but when something happens to one of our internal organs, it can take a little longer to get to your notice for example, an obstruction in the bile duct. The bile duct is a tubular structure responsible for carrying bile from the liver and gall bladder through the pancreas to the small intestine. This bile helps the digestion process and the absorption of fat.

An obstruction in the bile duct can be triggered by a number of factors. Some of these are:

    Gallstones
    Inflammation of the bile ducts
    Cysts
    Traumatic accidents
    Bile duct or pancreatic tumors
    Hepatitis infections
    Cirrhosis or severe liver damage
    Abnormal narrowing of the bile duct

This can affect anyone, but the people who have a history of gall stones or tumors in the abdomen are at a higher risk of suffering from bile duct obstruction. Chronic pancreatitis, sudden weight loss or obesity can also increase this risk. The symptoms of biliary obstruction include light coloured stool, dark urine, pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting and fever. Your doctor will also probably need an X-ray of the bile ducts, blood tests, a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan and ultrasonograph to confirm a diagnosis before they can start treating you for the same.

If not treated in time, bile duct blockages can lead to a dangerous buildup of bilirubin in the body and trigger a number of life threatening diseases. Treatment for biliary obstruction can be through medication or surgery with surgery being the more preferred mode of treatment. It is aimed at resolving the underlying cause of the obstruction and alleviating the blockage. Treatment for biliary obstruction can be two common forms of treatment include a cholecystectomy and ERCP. The former involves the removal of the gall bladder and is suited to obstructions caused by gallstones. The latter is a procedure to remove small stones from the bile duct or place a stent inside the duct.

There are many ways bile duct obstruction can be prevented which first and foremost includes following a healthy lifestyle. If you are overweight, exercise for at least half an hour a day to regulate your weight and reach a healthy BMI. Decrease your intake of sugar and saturated fats as both these can cause gall stones. Also, increase the amount of fibre in your diet. All the above mentioned tips will certainly help you in preventing bile duct obstruction.

Bile Duct Blockage -  8 Factors Behind it!

When you experience a pain on the side and back just below the ribs that at times radiates to the lower abdomen and is fluctuating in intensity, it is quite unlikely for you to think that the reason could be a kidney stone. One of the early symptoms of kidney stone, when you experience such pain, you must seek medical advice. However, there is no need to panic as it is completely curable. Read on to understand more about this condition.

What is urinary bladder stone?
Vesical calculus, which is more commonly referred to as bladder stones, are formed due to a buildup of minerals. It may occur when the bladder is not entirely emptied after urinating. In the course of time, the residual urine becomes concentrated, and the minerals start forming crystals. When the stones are in a miniature state, they can easily pass out, but at times, when they are quite big, they may get stuck in the walls of the urinary tract and cause severe pain and discomfort.

What are the causes of urinary bladder stones?
Bladder stones start growing when the urine is left in the bladder for a long span of time. This may happen due to some underlying medical condition which can prevent the bladder from completely emptying. Conditions which are responsible for causing stones in the urinary tract are as follows

Enlargement of the prostate: When the prostate is enlarged, it may exert pressure on the urethra and disrupt the flow. It leads to retention of urine and creates an ideal environment for the formation of stones.
Diverticula and enlargement of bladder: Sometimes, pouches form within the bladder, and when they become too large, they can retain urine and prevent the bladder from being emptied completely.
Usage of medical devices: Bladder stones may form when an individual uses catheters or other medical devices.
Inflammation of the bladder: Radiation therapy or infection in the urinary tract that causes inflammation or enlargement of the bladder can lead to the formation of stones. Also, if a person has kidney stones, they can come down to the ureters, and in case they become too large to pass, they would stay in the bladder and cause substantial obstruction. Kidney stones are more common than stones in the urinary bladder.
How are kidney stones treated?
Specific lifestyle changes such as drinking enough liquids, taking calcium supplements, limiting the amount of caffeine and alcohol and reducing body weight are some of the simplest yet effective means of treating urinary stones at earlier stages.

Use of specific medicines can also reduce the calcium and uric acid stones by controlling the amount of alkali or acid in the urine. These medications reduce the amount of calcium released by the kidneys so that they can be retained in the bone. If these treatment options do not work, you must consider undergoing surgical intervention.

Stones In Urinary Tract - 4 Particular Reasons Behind It!

The gall bladder, which sits just below the rib cage to the right of the stomach, is very tender to touch. It is a little sac or storage compartment for bile, which is produced by the liver. The gallbladder emits bile into the small intestines via a duct referred to as the cystic duct. The entire process is meant to break down foods (namely fatty foods). 
Gallbladder attack symptoms may include one or more of the following:
1.Pain in the back right shoulder blade:
Sometimes, pain radiates through to the back shoulder blade on the right side or in the middle between the shoulder blades. This is pain from the gallbladder affecting the back of the shoulder. This back shoulder blade chest pain is one of the most common yet unknown symptoms of a gallbladder disorder. This can come and go or be constant. It may be sharp, excruciating or dull. It may also occur especially at night. A gallbladder attack will typically last for one to four hours.
2. Pain in the stomach: 
The most common symptom of a gallbladder problem is pain. This pain usually occurs in the mid to upper-right section of your abdomen. It can be mild and intermittent, or it can be quite severe and frequent. In some cases, the pain will begin to radiate to other areas of the body, including the back and chest.
3. Nausea or Vomiting: 
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms among all types of gallbladder problems. But only a chronic gallbladder disease may cause digestive problems, such as acid reflux, gas, nausea, and vomiting.
4. Diarrhea:
Having more than four bowel movements a day for at least three months may be a sign of chronic gallbladder disease.
5. Fever or Chills:
An unexplained fever may signal that you have a bile duct infection. If you have an infection, you need treatment before it worsens and becomes dangerous. The infection can become life-threatening if it's allowed to spread to other parts of the body.
6. Unusual Stools or Urine: 
Lighter-colored stools and dark urine are possible signs of a common bile duct block.

Recognizing The Symptoms Of A Gall Bladder Attack

What is Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal Surgery (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy)?

Gallbladder removal is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. Gallbladder removal surgery is usually performed with minimally invasive techniques and the medical name for this procedure is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy or Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal.

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that rests beneath the right side of the liver. Its main purpose is to collect and concentrate a digestive liquid (bile) produced by the liver. Bile is released from the gallbladder after eating, aiding digestion. Bile travels through narrow tubular channels (bile ducts) into the small intestine. Removal of the gallbladder is not associated with any impairment of digestion in most people.

What Causes Gallbladder Problems?

Gallbladder problems are usually caused by the presence of gallstones which are usually small and hard, consisting primarily of cholesterol and bile salts that form in the gallbladder or in the bile duct.

It is uncertain why some people form gallstones but risk factors include being female, prior pregnancy, age over 40 years and being overweight. Gallstones are also more common as you get older and some people may have a family history of gallstones. There is no known means to prevent gallstones.

These stones may block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder, causing it to swell and resulting in sharp abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion and, occasionally, fever. If the gallstone blocks the common bile duct, jaundice (a yellowing of the skin) can occur.

Diagnosing 

Ultrasound is most commonly used to find gallstones.
In a few more complex cases, other X-ray test such as a CT scan or a gallbladder nuclear medicine scan may be used to evaluate gallbladder disease.
Gallstones do not go away on their own. Some can be temporarily managed by making dietary adjustments, such as reducing fat intake. This treatment has a low, short-term success rate. Symptoms will eventually continue unless the gallbladder is removed. Treatments to break up or dissolve gallstones are largely unsuccessful.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder is the time-honored and safest treatment of gallbladder disease.

What are the Advantages of Performing Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal?

Rather than a five to seven inch incision, the operation requires only four small openings in the abdomen.
Patients usually have minimal post-operative pain.
Patients usually experience faster recovery than open gallbladder surgery patients.
Most patients go home the same day of the surgery and enjoy a quicker return to normal activities.
Are you a Candidate?

Although there are many advantages to laparoscopic gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy), the procedure may not be appropriate for some patients who have severe complicated gallbladder disease or previous upper abdominal surgery. A thorough medical evaluation by your personal physician, in consultation with a surgeon trained in laparoscopy, can determine if laparoscopic gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is an appropriate procedure for you.


Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal Surgery!

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