Gallbladder anatomy Pain and complications caused by gallstones are the most common reasons for removal of the gallbladder. The gallbladder can also be removed in order to treat biliary dyskinesia or gallbladder cancer. Gallstones are very common but 50–80% of people with gallstones are asymptomatic and do not need surgery; their stones are noticed incidentally on imaging tests of the abdomen (such as ultrasound or CT) done for some other reason. Of the more than 20 million people in the US with gallstones, only about 30% will eventually require<unk>  to relieve symptoms (pain) or treat complications. Biliary colic Biliary colic, or pain caused by gallstones, occurs when a gallstone temporarily blocks the bile duct that drains the gallbladder. Typically, pain from biliary colic is felt in the right upper part of the abdomen, is moderate to severe, and goes away on its own after a few hours when the stone dislodges. Biliary colic usually occurs after meals when the gallbladder contracts to push bile out into the digestive tract. After a first attack of biliary colic, more than 90% of people will have a repeat attack in the next 10 years. Repeated attacks of biliary colic are the most common reason for removing the gallbladder, and lead to about 300,000<unk> es in the US each year. Acute<unk> cystitis<unk> cystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder caused by interruption in the normal flow of bile, is another reason for<unk> . It is the most common complication of gallstones; 90-95% of acute<unk> cystitis is caused by gallstones blocking drainage of the gallbladder. If the blockage is incomplete and the stone passes quickly, the person experiences biliary colic. If the gallbladder is completely blocked and remains so for a prolonged period, the person develops acute<unk> cystitis. Pain in<unk> cystitis is similar to that of biliary colic, but lasts longer than six hours and occurs together with signs of infection such as fever, chills, or an elevated white blood cell count. People with<unk> cystitis will also usually have a positive Murphy sign on physical exam – meaning that when a doctor asks the patient to take a deep breath and then pushes down on the upper right side of their abdomen, the patient stops their inhalation due to pain from the pressure on their inflamed gallbladder. Five to ten percent of acute<unk> cystitis occurs in people without gallstones, and for this reason, is called acalculous<unk> cystitis. It usually develops in people who have abnormal bile drainage secondary to a serious illness, such as people with multi-organ failure, serious trauma, recent major surgery, or following a long stay in the intensive care unit. People with repeat episodes of acute<unk> cystitis can develop chronic<unk> cystitis from changes in the normal anatomy of the gallbladder. This can also be an indication for<unk>  if the person has ongoing pain.<unk> ngitis and gallstone pancreatitis<unk> ngitis and gallstone pancreatitis are rarer and more serious complications from gallstone disease. Both can occur if gallstones leave the gallbladder, pass through the cystic duct, and get stuck in the common bile duct. The common bile duct drains the liver and pancreas, and a blockage there can lead to inflammation and infection in both the pancreas and biliary system. While<unk>  is not usually the immediate treatment choice for either of these conditions, it is often recommended to prevent repeat episodes from additional gallstones getting stuck. Gallbladder cancer Gallbladder cancer (also called carcinoma of the gallbladder) is a rare indication for<unk> . In cases where cancer is suspected, the open technique for<unk>  is usually performed. Liver transplantation In living donor liver transplantation between adults, a<unk>  is performed in the donor because gallbladder interferes with removal of the right (lateral) lobe of the liver and to prevent the formation of gallstones in the recipient. The gallbladder is not removed in pediatric transplantations as the left lobe of the liver is used instead.
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystostomy
Cholecystenterostomy
Biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Perihepatic packing
Pancreatectomy
Appendectomy