The gallbladder is an organ of the digestive system located under the liver and connected to it by a whole system of ducts. Externally, it resembles a hollow pear of small size and is designed for the accumulation and excretion of bile, which is produced by the liver for better fat absorption and the movement of food through the intestines. Despite its small size, the gallbladder collects and pumps about 2 liters of bile daily through the bile duct into the duodenum. The most common gallbladder diseases include dyskinesia (disruption of the muscular activity of the walls of the gallbladder and ducts, resulting in bile stagnation), stone formation (cholelithiasis), and inflammatory diseases (acute or chronic cholecystitis).
Causes
The following factors contribute to the development of gallbladder diseases:
- excessive consumption of fatty and spicy foods
- long intervals between meals
- overeating
- sedentary lifestyle
- certain gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers
- hormonal imbalances
- menopausal period
- food allergies
- stress and anxiety
- excess weight
- presence of intestinal parasites, such as worms.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Diseases
All gallbladder and duct diseases, regardless of their nature and causes, are characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:
- constant or intermittent pain in the right upper quadrant of any nature (from dull aching to sharp cramping), possibly radiating to the right arm, shoulder, neck, or back
- sensation of heaviness in the right upper quadrant
- bitter taste in the mouth, especially in the morning
- nausea or vomiting that does not provide relief.
Additionally, the following symptoms should raise concern and prompt a visit to a gastroenterologist: fever, yellowing of the skin and sclera, constipation or gastrointestinal disturbances, fatigue, persistent low mood, sleep problems, and decreased appetite, which manifest against the background of the above symptoms.
Diagnosis of Gallbladder Diseases in Israel
To obtain the most complete and accurate picture of the gallbladder's condition, highly qualified doctors at Ichilov clinic use a comprehensive examination of the patient, which includes a range of diagnostic methods, among which the following should be noted:
- blood tests (general, biochemical, immunological)
- stool analysis, providing information about the gastrointestinal tract's ability to digest food
- ultrasound of the gallbladder and ducts
- cholecystography
- cholangiography
- duodenal intubation
- fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy
- fibrocolonoscopy.
In particularly severe cases, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used. The gastroenterology department of the clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that allows for the most accurate detection of diseases and their causes even at the earliest stages of development.
Treatment of Gallbladder Diseases in Israel
In the treatment of gallbladder and duct diseases in Israeli clinics, gastroenterologists prescribe a special diet that excludes spicy and fatty foods, combined with medication therapy, which typically includes choleretics, antibiotics, immunomodulators, and vitamins. If stones are found in the gallbladder or ducts, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is performed, during which they are crushed and turned into sand, which can then be excreted along with bile. In the treatment of cholecystitis, minimally invasive surgeries are performed, during which a puncture of the gallbladder is made with subsequent removal of the stone and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which can be applied even to elderly patients and those with cardiovascular pathologies and have a short postoperative recovery period. Throughout the treatment course, gastroenterologists work in conjunction with immunologists, endocrinologists, and specialists from other fields, allowing for comprehensive problem-solving in a short time and in full.
Prevention
The main prevention and, by the way, part of the treatment is the transition to a healthy diet, which implies a rejection of fatty, fried, and spicy foods, minimizing harmful habits, regular full meals in small portions, as well as moderate physical activity.