A HIDA scan looks at the duct system within the gallbladder and liver. A HIDA scan can also be used for a more thorough evaluation of the bile duct system. This test can evaluate the function of the gallbladder using a harmless radioactive substance.
The substance is injected into a vein and then watched as it moves through the gallbladder. Another chemical may also be injected that causes the gallbladder to release bile.
A HIDA scan shows how the gallbladder moves bile through the bile duct system. It can also measure the rate of bile moving out of the gallbladder. This is known as the ejection fraction. A normal ejection fraction for the gallbladder is considered between 35 to 65 percent. Blood tests are also done to check for increased white blood cell counts and abnormal liver function. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP is a more invasive but useful test. A flexible camera is inserted into the mouth and down past the stomach into the small intestine.
Contrast dye is injected to show the bile duct system with a specialized X-ray. ERCP is an especially useful test if a blockage due to gallstones is suspected. Any gallstone that is causing blockage can often be removed during this procedure. Since certain health conditions increase the risk of gallstone formation, changes in lifestyle may help manage gallbladder disease in people without symptoms. Being overweight and having diabetes increases the likelihood of gallstones.
Losing weight and getting good control over diabetes may help lower your risk. However, rapid weight loss can also trigger gallstone formation. Talk to your doctor about safe ways to lose weight.
Increasing physical activity also appears to decrease gallstone formation along with lowering high triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. The first episode of gallbladder inflammation is often treated with pain medications. Because the pain is often severe, prescription medications are needed.
Your doctor may prescribe medications with codeine or hydrocodone. IV prescription anti-inflammatories may be prescribed, or stronger pain medications like morphine. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen Advil and naproxen Aleve may not be used as often due to the increased risk of nausea and vomiting. Most people have difficulty managing the pain and its accompanying symptoms at home. Talk with your doctor to discuss the best treatment for you.
Ongoing research is looking into the use of the medication ezetimibe and its role in decreasing the formation of cholesterol gallstones. This medication changes how the body absorbs cholesterol from the intestinal tract. Gallbladder surgery continues to be the most effective method for treating active gallbladder disease. The surgery can be done either by opening your abdomen with an incision, or laparoscopically.
This involves making several poke holes through the abdominal wall and inserting a camera. Laparoscopic surgery allows for faster recovery.
According to the Mayo Clinic , up to 3 out of 10 people can have diarrhea after gallbladder surgery. For most people, diarrhea will only last a few weeks. But in a few cases, it can last for years. After the procedure, patients are generally able to go home the same day, barring complications. Full recovery may take up to a week, and most can return to normal activity within a few days.
While digestive complications following the surgery are rare, some patients experience side effects such as loose stools that tend to resolve over time. If you have been experiencing symptoms associated with gallstones, do not put off a visit to your physician. It is unlikely that the condition will resolve on its own. In fact, it may worsen and lead to more severe complications down the line. Gallbladder removal is not only simple, but it is also highly effective at alleviating symptoms once and for all, allowing patients to once again eat and function without discomfort.
The team at Lane Surgery Group perform cholecystectomies regularly and with great results. From there, it is moved to the small intestine. Sometimes, gallstones can lodge or form in the common bile duct. Most often, these stones begin their life in the gallbladder and migrate to the common bile duct. This is a secondary stone or a secondary common bile duct stone.
If the stone forms within the duct itself, it is a primary stone, or primary common bile duct stone. These are less common but are more likely to cause an infection than secondary stones. Gallbladder cancer is very rare, affecting less than 4, Americans per year; but if it does occur, it can spread to other parts of the body. Risk factors include gallstones, porcelain gallbladder described below , female gender, obesity , and older age.
This commonly happens when a gallstone obstructs the tube that bile uses to travel into and out of the gallbladder. When the bile duct is blocked, bile builds up. The excess bile irritates the gallbladder, leading to swelling and infection.
Over time, the gallbladder is damaged, and it can no longer function fully. If gallstones are left untreated, they can lead to a perforated gallbladder — in other words, a hole in the wall of the organ can develop. Perforation also occurs as a complication of acute cholecystitis. If the common bile duct becomes blocked, it can lead to an infection. This can be treated if it is caught early; however, if it is missed, it can spread and develop into a severe, life-threatening infection.
Repeated episodes of gallstone attacks or cholecystitis may damage the gallbladder permanently. This can lead to a rigid, scarred gallbladder. In this case, symptoms can be hard to pinpoint. They include abdominal fullness, indigestion , and increased gas and diarrhea. Gallstone ileus is rare but can be fatal. It occurs when a gallstone migrates to the intestine and blocks it. Often, emergency surgery is needed to clear the blockage. Sometimes, a patient with gallstones will also develop pus in the gallbladder; this is called empyema.
A tiny drain is inserted inside the gallbladder, which allows the bile to escape. Gallbladder removal surgery is very rarely used to treat acute acalculous gallbladder disease, Rogula says, but might be considered if antibiotics and drainage aren't effective in treating the condition. Acute acalculous gallbladder disease isn't something to ignore, particularly if a serious septic infection is to blame.
If you've got suspicious pains in your upper right abdomen, it's best to get it checked out — if it's your gallbladder, gallstones are most likely to blame.
But if they aren't, your doctor will run tests to find out what's troubling your gallbladder, and remedy the situation appropriately to ease your pain. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics.
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