Gallstone Pancreatitis is the result of a blockage in the pancreatic duct by a gallstone. Due to the blockage in the pancreatic duct, inflammation occurs and causes the problem to begin.

This can be a life-threatening situation and should be immediately checked. If the stones from the gallbladder travel down the common bile duct and get stuck at the sphincter, it can stop the outflow of all materials from the pancreas as well as the liver and become quite severe. There are a lot of risks involved when a person suffers from this issue. Rapid weight loss, high cholesterol levels, diabetes are a few of the risks of the disease.

Symptoms of Gallstone Pancreatitis
There are a number of symptoms like pangs of pain in the upper left abdomen and the back, swollen and tender abdomen, vomiting and nausea, increase in the heart rate, fever and more can be seen in a patient suffering from gallstone pancreatitis. Any individual who notices any of the following symptoms should get themselves checked immediately. Any pain in the upper abdominal area can be aggravated by eating foods which are high in fat as well.

Diagnosis of Gallstone Pancreatitis
In order to be completely sure about having gallstone pancreatitis, a number of tests are performed. Blood tests are followed by abdominal CAT scan to check for the inflammation of the pancreas. This also shows how severe the inflammation of the pancreas is. Sometimes abdominal ultrasound is also suggested as CAT scans are sometimes not as sensitive in identifying the problem. Once the problem has been detected, immediate treatment is recommended by doctors.

The Treatment of Gallstone Pancreatitis
The best treatment for pancreatitis is done in the initial stage of the problem. By avoiding taking in liquids and solid food up until the inflammation subsides is one of the best treatments. If the inflammation is relatively modest, the swelling can reduce in a few days by intravenous delivery of fluids for a couple of days.

1. If a CAT scan or MRI of abdomen suggest that a stone in present in the Common bile Duct (CBD), the an Endoscopic treatment referred as ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) is done. 

2. After the acute pancreatitis episode settles down, patient must undergo a Gall Bladder removal surgery. This is done as gall bladder is the factory of gall stones and patient is at-risk to another episode of Acute Pancreatitis.

In case of severe inflammation, fever and persisting pain, intravenous delivery of food should continue if oral intake of food does not start within 5 to 7 days. Anti-nausea medications are used to treat severe nausea and vomiting along with nasogastric tube. In certain cases, it is important to remove the gallstones from the bladder immediately while in some cases doctors suggest waiting for a period of 24-48 hours before starting the removal procedure. Sometimes a surgical removal of the gallstones is also required but only if the stones do not pass out of the system on their own.

All You Need to Know About Gallstone Pancreatitis

Following are some common Gall Bladder and Biliary Disorders. Read on to know in brief about them. 

1. Gall stones: Gall stones also known as cholelitiasis is a condition in which gall bladder contains stones or calculi. Usually, these stones are asymptomatic and do not cause any trouble to the patients. Few patients experience recurrent right upper abdominal pain. This condition is known as biliary colic and if it persists, the patiet is adviced gall bladder removal surgery. Sometimes the patient presents with severe right upper abdominal pain with fever and deranged Liver function tests. This condition is known as acute cholecystitis. The surgery is minimally invasive and is called Laproscopic cholecystectomy. If there are dense adhesions, the surgeon may plan to convert the surgery to open cholecystectomy. The patient is usually discharged by day 3 of surgery.

2. Common bile duct stone or choledocholithiasis: Occasionally stone from the gall bladder slips into the common bile duct (CBD stone).This causes obstruction of the bile duct causing Fever, abdominal pain and Jaundice. This is called Cholangitis and is a medical emergency. The patient requires urgent hospitalisation and decompression of the bile duct by inserting a plastic stent in the CBD with the help of ERCP. Severe untreated cholangitis can be life threatenig.CBD Stones which are detected because of dull aching abdominal pain, deranged liver function tests or by ultrasonography also need removal. The CBD stone is removed by an endoscopic modality called ERCP, which is minimally invasive and needs no surgery.

3. Bile duct cancer or cholangiocarcinoma: Cancer of bile duct usually occurs in the elderly patients who present with gradually progressive jaundice. Because of the obstruction to the flow of bile, produced in the liver, the patient develops jaundice. Gastroenterologists examine the patient and CT scan abdomen with MRCP is required to fully evaluate the stage and extent of the tumour. The treatment is multimodality and requires the expertise of Radiologists, Surgeons, Oncologists and gastroenterologists. The Gastroenterologists can help in decreasing Jaundice by inserting plastic or a metal stent (SEMS self-expanding metal stent ) in the common bile duct. These are very aggressive tumours and very few patients are fit for surgery. Survival is very low for these tumours.

4. Gall bladder cancer: Gall bladder cancers are very aggressive and lethal cancers. The patients present with obstructive Jaundice and Itching all over the body. Definitive treatment is surgery but very patients present in the early stage. Advanced stage cancers are treated with palliative intent by metal stenting (SEMS for cancer of gall bladder) to reduce jaundice.

Learn More About Gall Bladder And Biliary Disorders!

It is an extremely embarrassing situation to have a bladder leakage. Social life could be altered, with reduced socialising for fear of losing control in the presence of others. Though not discussed frankly, it is an extremely common issue and about 25 million people in the United States suffer from this, with 75% of these being women.

Treatment depends on the type of incontinence, such as stress, urge, overflow, functional, or mixed. It starts with least invasive methods like lifestyle changes moving over to surgical approaches.

Ways to manage it

With trips to the toilet increasing considerably when you have urinary incontinence, simple measures can help manage leakage.

Bladder training: Train your bladder to control the urge for another 10 minutes. This happens by voluntarily contracting the muscles and holding up the urge to go to the toilet. Gradually, it will help increase the frequency of the visit to 4 to 6 hours.
Scheduled toilet trips: Whether or not there is an urge, visit the toilet every 4 to 6 hours.
Double emptying: Even after you have voided, force yourself to void one more time. The residual urine, which is almost always present in the bladder, also gets emptied.
Food/diet modifications: Stress incontinence is worsened by alcohol, spicy foods, acidic foods, and caffeine. Avoiding these can help reduce bladder leakage.
Kegel exercises: The simple repetition of contracting the pelvic floor muscles, holding it in place, and releasing it can do wonders for strengthening the pelvic floor. This can be done anywhere and any time of the day and is very effective for improving bladder control.
Catheters: These can be used if the incontinence is short-lived; the person would need to learn how to safely insert and remove it.
Absorbent pads and medical devices: The absorbent pads are helpful in preventing embarrassment during social situations. On the other hand, medical devices like pessary are inserted into the vagina to support the bladder neck and thereby prevent leakage from the bladder.
Drugs: Anticholinergics/antimuscarinics are useful to control a leaking bladder. Botox injections can help paralyse the overactive bladder muscles and provide a solution. Topical oestrogen may be used in small amounts to improve tone and reduce incontinence. Alpha blockers are also used in some people with good results. There are muscles that relax the bladder and increase the amount of urine it can contain.
Surgery: In the event that all these measures are not useful, surgical correction is possible. Sling procedure where an artificial mesh is used to support the urethra. Bladder neck suspension is where the bladder neck is given support to prevent leakage. If there is a pelvic organ prolapse, that is corrected to rectify the bladder leakage.

 Bladder Leakage - Solutions To Help You Manage It!

Since the development of modern medicine, doctors and health care professionals have always tried to come up with minimally invasive procedures for both diagnostic purposes as well as surgery. Endoscopy was developed to see inside a human body without the need for large incisions or surgery.

What is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a type of procedure wherein the doctor inserts a long thin tube into the body through an opening such as the mouth, anus or the urethra. Sometimes small incisions may be made on your body to insert the tube as well. The tube which is inserted within the body is fitted with a camera which allows the doctor to see what is wrong within your body, a specific section or organ. Doctors can even take images or videos of your organs which help them to determine a due course of action in your treatment. Endoscopy may also be used as a part of a laparoscopic operation to correct problems within the body, especially in cases wherein tissues have to be removed.

Types of endoscopy and its uses-
Although endoscopy could be used in any part of the body, there are certain areas where they are used more commonly than the others. Some of the types or endoscopies are mentioned below:

Colonoscopy   Used to examine your colon wherein the scope is inserted through your anus
Laparoscopy   This is one of the most common forms of diagnosis as well as surgery wherein the tube may be inserted through a small area in your abdomen or the pelvic area. This is not only used for imaging or diagnosis but is used in surgery as well.
Arthroscopy   Here, an incision is made on the joints of your body to check for problems
Cystoscopy   In this type, the tube is inserted through the urethral opening to check for problems in the urinary tract or the bladder. Another variation of this would be ureteroscopy.
Enteroscopy   This is an endoscopic examination of the intestines wherein the tube is inserted via the anus or the mouth.
Hysteroscopy   Here, examination of the uterus and the female reproductive organ is carried out wherein the endoscope is inserted into the vagina.
Bronchoscopy   It entails an examination of the lungs wherein the scope may be inserted through the nose or mouth to check the lungs
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy - This is used for the examination of the esophagus and the upper intestinal tract.
Risks and safety-
Endoscopy is a widely performed and very reliable procedure. In the hands of a skilled doctor, endoscopy will be able to determine the cause of the problem and also correct the issues if surgery is also performed along with it. However, like any procedure, it does carry certain risks although the chances are fairly low. Some of the risks are mentioned as follows  

Perforation or other injuries to your organs such as scraping or bruising
Fever due to the introduction of foreign materials
Persisting pain in the specific area wherein endoscopy was performed
Swelling of the area wherein the tube was inserted
Infections after the procedure
Bleeding at the site of the incision or entry of the tube
However, these cases are rare and only occur in a very small section of the cases. Although there is minimal pain associated with the procedure, the benefits far outweigh the risks and inconveniences.

8 Types Of Endoscopies & For What They Are Used For!

Diet and other lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and high waist-hip ratio are seen to be the significant contributing factors of certain medical conditions, gallstones one among them. Gallstones have become a highly prevalent issue in India, with an increasing number of patients reporting abdominal pain and discomfort. And it is also seen to be more common in females than in males. If your doctor suspects this problem, then he would proceed with the diagnosis and treatment as applicable.

How are gallstones treated?
If gallstones are not leading to any signs or symptom, then in such cases the treatment is not required. However, if an individual suffers from any symptoms or a gallbladder attack, then the health care provider normally recommends undergoing surgery. This surgery is used for removing the gallbladder. Sometimes, the individual may not be in a condition to undergo surgery and, in such cases, conventional treatment may be used for curing the disorder.

The surgery for the removal of the gallbladder is known as the cholecystectomy and is one of the most common surgical interventions performed for people with gallstones. The gallbladder is not considered to be a significant organ in the human body. This means that an individual can easily survive without the gallbladder. As the gallbladder is removed, bile starts flowing out of the liver through common and hepatic bile ducts without creating any issues.

What are the surgical options required for removal of gallstones?
There are two types of surgeries used for removal of stones in the gallbladder. These are explained below.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: In this surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen for the insertion of a laparoscope, which has a tiny camera attached to it. This camera enables a magnified image to be sent to the video monitor so that the surgeon can see the tissues and organs clearly. At the same time, the surgeon uses certain instruments for carefully separating the gallbladder from the liver, bile ducts and other organs. Then the gallbladder is carefully removed through one of the small incisions. This is the most suitable options for the removal of the gallbladder since it is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the patient can go home the same day.
Open cholecystectomy: This is done when the gallbladder has severe inflammation or infection or scars from different operations. This may also be performed at the time of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In such cases, the surgeon switches to open cholecystectomy as a safety means for the patient.
What to expect after the procedure?
A small percentage of the patients have softer and more frequent stools after the removal of the gallbladder. These changes in bowel habits are normally temporary, and they are required to be consulted with the expert.
Since the incidence of gallstones is found to be related to gallbladder cancer, it is essential to work with your doctor to avail proper treatment and avoid such dire complications.

Surgical Option To Remove Gallstones - Know Which One Will Be Better For You!

The gall bladder is a very small organ located behind the liver. This organ stores the bile created by the liver and releases it whenever needed. We rarely pay attention to this organ until there is a problem and most gallbladder related problems are very painful. Unknowingly you may be harming your gall bladder by eating certain types of food like red meats and saturated fats. On the other hand, eating some types of food can improve your gall bladder health. Some such foods are:

Fiber-rich foods: Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of fiber and a must in a balanced diet. Fiber helps keep the gall bladder healthy and also helps prevent gallstones from developing. An easy way to add more fibre to your diet is to incorporate a salad with your lunch and dinner.
Water: Water not only helps hydrate the body but also helps maintain the water levels required in bile. Ideally, a person should drink 8 glasses of water a day. This should not all be drunk at one time but should be spaced out through the day. Drinking too much water at one time will result in the body expelling it in the form of urine instead of absorbing it.
Foods rich in Pectin: Pectin is a dietary fiber that binds cholesterol in the stomach and helps in its removal from the body. Since cholesterol is one of the major causes for gall stones, eating pectin-rich foods helps reduce the risk of gallstones. Some foods that are rich in pectin include citrus fruits, strawberries and apples.
Flaxseeds: Eating just one tablespoon of flax seeds a day can boost your health in a number of ways. One of the many benefits of including flaxseeds in your diet is a healthy gall bladder. Flax seeds contain mucilaginous fiber or fiber that forms a gel. This type of fiber aids in the liver s synthesis of bile acids and thus keeps the gall bladder healthy.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Not all fats are bad for the body. Omega three fatty acids play an important role in producing anti-inflammatory compounds. Some rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids include olive oil, avocados and flax seeds.
Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits are very rich in vitamins like vitamin C. a deficiency of this particular vitamin can cause gall stones. For this reason, eat plenty of citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers and broccoli that are rich in vitamin C. 

Gallbladder Health - Foods that Can Help maintain it!

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