Gallbladder

When we eat our gallbladder releases a high concentrated form of bile into the common bile duct which is a combination of hepatic and cystic ducts. The bile flows through this duct to the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum) where it breaks down the fat in our food.

If there is a large amount of cholesterol in the bile crystals form. Over time these crystal stick together to form stones in the gallbladder. If these stones lodge in the neck of the gallbladder or bile ducts connecting the gallbladder to the liver and small intestine, this will cause pain, inflammation and other symptoms that lead to serious complications.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Yellowing of skin and white of the eye (jaundice).
• Unintended weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Enlarged gallbladder, a blocked duct can cause bile to accumulate and makes the gallbladder larger this can be detected by your doctor or ultrasound
• Intense itching (pruritis) when bile is obstructed by a tumor, the bile salts may deposit on your skin leading to intense itching.