The main reasons for needing gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) include:
- Gallstones: Hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder can block bile ducts, causing severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems. Gallstones are the most common reason for gallbladder removal.
- Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis): Inflammation caused by gallstones or infection can result in severe pain, fever, and tenderness in the upper right abdomen. Untreated inflammation can lead to complications requiring removal.
- Biliary dyskinesia: A condition where the gallbladder doesn't function properly, resulting in symptoms like abdominal pain and digestive disturbances.
- Other complications: Including bile duct stones, pancreatitis caused by gallstones, large gallbladder polyps that may become cancerous, and concerns about gallbladder cancer.
Gallbladder removal is often recommended when these conditions cause painful, persistent symptoms or complications that cannot be managed with other treatments. It is a common, generally safe surgery, and people can live normally without a gallbladder since the liver continues to produce bile for digestion.
