The gall bladder stores a small amount of bile to aid in the digestion of fatty meals, but has little real function in humans. People can live normal, healthy lives after the surgical removal of their gallbladder. I shows the gallbladder and other important anatomical structures inside the abdomen that are related to gallbladder disease and gallbladder surgery. Symptoms are often worse after eating. Occasionally, patients can become very ill with fever and jaundice.
Gallbladder disease can occur with or without gallstones.
Figure II shows how gallstones can cause gallbladder disease by irritation of the gallbladder itself or by blockage of the ducts coming from the gallbladder. Recently, a new test involving stimulation of the gallbladder during a HIDA scan with CCK or Cholecystokinnin has been found to be the most sensitive test for early gallbladder disease. The only effective treatment for gallbladder disease is surgery. Although the operative time was only one hour, the hospital stay was one week, the recovery period at home was one month, and the patient experienced a large amount of pain. The incisions are very small - one by the belly button and three or four more incisions in the upper right part of the abdomen.