Gallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders - Overview

That big meal of fried food or greasy pizza may be causing more than just nighttime indigestion. It could bring on a gallbladder “attack.” Usually gallstones appear after a fatty meal in the evening with the misery of nausea, vomiting, chills, and fever. Other symptoms can include abdominal pain, belching, bloating, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes). The gallbladder is the organ that releases bile to help the stomach digest fats, but it can become clogged.

The most common gallstones are cholesterol-based and form when the bile overloads on cholesterol, or when the gallbladder does not empty properly. Infections in the bile tract, or diseases such as cirrhosis (liver) or sickle-cell anemia can cause the less common pigment stones.

Gallstones that block the bile ducts can cause infections of the ducts, pancreas or liver, and could result a life-threatening illness. Cancer or trauma can also block the bile ducts. While gallbladder cancer is rare, it is important to check with a physician for a proper diagnosis.

Often the removal of the stones and the gallbladder cure the symptoms. At times, a condition similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome develops and continual treatment is needed to relieve the patient. People with gastric bypasses may need special surgery to move around their rerouted digestive system.

Diseases and conditions treated:

• Gallbladder and bile duct disorders
• Bile duct stones
• Biliary dyskinesia
• Bile duct injury
• Bile duct strictures
• Cholangitis
• Caroli’s disease
• Gallbladder problems
• Gallstones
• Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

Services and Treatments:

• Diagnosis of gallbladder conditions
• Diagnosis of bile duct and biliary tract conditions
• Laparoscopic removal of stones
• Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery
• Gastric bypass gallbladder surgery