| The gall bladder is a small organ that is situated in | | | | or billary colic) or acute (acute cholecystitis). |
| the vicinity of the liver. The liver produces bile, a | | | | Chronic cholecystitis is less serious and generates |
| substance that has a very important role in the | | | | milder symptoms, while acute cholecystitis may in |
| digestion of fat. The gall bladder stores the bile | | | | some cases require surgery. |
| produced by the liver and expels it inside the small | | | | The gall bladder is not considered to be a vital |
| intestine when the substance is required in the | | | | organ and if it is removed, the body can still |
| digestion of foods containing fat. | | | | sustain its normal activity. However, in the |
| Many people suffer from gall bladder disease | | | | absence of the gall bladder, the liver has to |
| these days. The disease has a high incidence in | | | | produce more quantities of bile whenever food |
| elderly people and statistics indicate that around 15 | | | | that contains fat enters the small intestine. |
| percent of people with gall bladder disease have | | | | Without a gall bladder, food digestion and |
| ages over 50. Gall bladder disease mostly occurs | | | | absorption can sometimes be affected. People |
| in women, as estrogen facilitates the development | | | | who had their gall bladder surgically removed need |
| of the illness. Children and teenagers rarely | | | | to respect a low-fat diet and limit the amount of |
| develop gall bladder disease and young patients | | | | food consumed during their meals. With |
| usually suffer from milder forms of the disorder. | | | | appropriate medical treatment and good diet, the |
| Gall bladder disease has a high incidence in | | | | body will begin to cope with the absence of the |
| overweight people, people with internal disorders | | | | gall bladder. |
| (gastro-intestinal problems) and people with high | | | | There are two common medical procedures used |
| blood cholesterol levels. | | | | in gall bladder surgery: open surgery |
| In the majority of cases, gall bladder disease is | | | | (cholecystectomy) and laparoscopic surgery |
| caused by gallstones. Gallstones are formed due | | | | (laparoscopic cholecystectomy). Laparoscopic |
| to the excess of cholesterol in the bile or | | | | cholecystectomy is usually preferred by both |
| incomplete emptying of the gall bladder. | | | | patients and surgeons, as the surgical intervention |
| Sometimes, gallstones are formed when the gall | | | | involves less risk and leaves less pronounced |
| bladder removes too much water from the | | | | scars. This form of surgery is performed with the |
| stored bile. Gallstones are solid formations that | | | | aid of a laparoscope, a tube-shaped medical |
| accumulate inside the gall bladder, blocking the | | | | instrument that has a camera attached to it. By |
| access of the bile. The diseased gall bladder can't | | | | using a laparoscope, the surgery requires smaller |
| sustain its normal activity and the process of | | | | incisions and patients who suffer such surgical |
| digestion is perturbed. | | | | interventions recover rapidly. There are many |
| Gall bladder disease can usually be overcome | | | | effective means of dealing with gall bladder |
| through diet and medical treatments. However, in | | | | disease and it is important to see a doctor if you |
| serious forms of the disease, doctors recommend | | | | suffer from gall bladder inappropriate activity. Left |
| the removal of the diseased gall bladder through | | | | untreated, gall bladder disease can aggravate and |
| the means of surgical intervention. Gall bladder | | | | lead to complications. |
| disease can be either chronic (chronic cholecystitis | | | | |