Gallbladder is not dispensable, what impact will it have on the human body after removal? These 4 'endings' are uncomfortable

The 53-year-old Lao Wang is a small local foreman. Sometimes he can't even eat breakfast when he is busy, but he always likes to add braised pork to lunch. Even his wife often says that he eats too greasy.

Since a month ago, Lao Wang has always felt abdominal pain, but because of work reasons, he has been reluctant to go to the hospital for examination.

Until last week, he was so painful that he couldn't stand up straight, and the workers rushed him to the hospital for examination.

"Doctor, I saw in the examination report that I have gallbladder stones, do I have to remove them?" Lao Wang returned to the doctor's outpatient room with the examination report.

Doctor: "Let me have a look... In your case, it is recommended to have it removed."

Old Wang: "Doctor, I would like to ask if it's okay not to cut it? Is it okay to just take medicine?"

Doctor: "You can't cure it by taking medicine alone! Besides, cholecystectomy is very advanced now, and the prognosis is quite good, so don't worry too much."

Lao Wang: " But I heard others say that it is easy to get bowel cancer if you have it removed! Then... I got bowel cancer after having that thing removed. Isn't it worth the candle!"

Doctor: " ... so many patients have had their gallbladder removed, have you seen how many have bowel cancer? If you don't remove it, you are more likely to get gallbladder cancer, which is much more serious than bowel cancer! "

In fact, the gallbladder plays an important role in human health, and it is not optional. If gallstones are detected, can the gallbladder be removed? Will there be side effects?

1. Many people’s gallbladder stones are “made”

Gallstones are the most common type of gallbladder disease, including gallbladder stones and intrahepatic bile duct stones. The incidence of gallbladder stones is as high as 6.5%, and this proportion continues to increase with age. The incidence of gallbladder stones in people over 70 years old 11.2% .

What are gallstones?

Gallbladder stone is a stone disease that occurs in the biliary system. Any factor that causes changes in the ratio of cholesterol to bile acid concentration and cholestasis can lead to the formation of stones in the gallbladder.

70% of patients with gallbladder stones have no obvious symptoms, but if left unattended, the gallbladder stones will continue to "enlarge", which may block the neck of the gallbladder or the cystic duct, thereby inducing biliary colic . There will be persistent cramps in the right upper quadrant or upper abdomen, and the pain will intensify after meals or when eating greasy food.

So what exactly causes gallstones?

The causes of gallbladder stones are very complicated. Most of the stones are related to irregular diet , such as taking snacks as the staple food, liking desserts, skipping breakfast, liking greasy food, being a vegetarian for a long time, not drinking water, etc. At the same time, it may also be related to emotions, such as old sulk and long-term depression.

2. What will happen to the body after the gallbladder is removed?

First of all, let's understand the consequences of not removing the gallbladder.

Many gallstone patients refuse cholecystectomy for fear that it will affect their digestive function. In fact, the gallbladder with stones has often lost its original functions of storing and excreting bile . If the gallbladder is not removed, it is equivalent to preserving a lesion.

In clinical practice, gallbladder stones are often complicated by acute cholecystitis. In severe cases, gallbladder empyema, necrosis and perforation may occur, which can be life-threatening. Once gallbladder blockage occurs, acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis and acute pancreatitis may also occur, and the case fatality rate is as high as 50%.

In addition, gallbladders with stones are more prone to cancer .

Long-term presence of gallstones in the gallbladder means long-term recurrent gallbladder obstruction and biliary colic, which can easily lead to chronic fibrosis of the gallbladder, abnormal morphology and function, and form a vicious circle, leading to an increased risk of cancer.

But a gallbladder is not optional. In the past, the gallbladder was considered more as an organ for storing, contracting, excreting and concentrating bile, but with research, people found that the gallbladder can also help process bile, promote digestion, regulate biliary pressure, strengthen the human immune system and other functions.

Therefore, once the gallbladder is removed, it may have the following effects on the body:

1. Abnormal excretion

Bile flows to the intestinal tract. When the gallbladder is removed, the bile will lose control and flow into the intestinal tract continuously, causing irritation to the intestinal tract, and patients will always have diarrhea. And when bile is needed, bile cannot be provided, and the stomach will always be bloated.

2. Bile reflux

When the gallbladder is removed, increased reflux of duodenal fluid may lead to reflux esophagitis.

3. Syndrome after cholecystectomy

After cholecystectomy, postoperative syndrome may occur, causing discomfort in the upper abdomen or right upper quadrant of the patient.

4. More prone to colon cancer

After the gallbladder is removed, the proportion of secondary bile acids in the bile increases, and this bile acid has carcinogenic or cancer-promoting effects , which may increase the probability of colon cancer and gallbladder cancer.

3. "Protect gallbladder" or "cut gallbladder"?

Patients with gallbladder stones do not feel it for a long time, which also makes many patients hesitate whether they really need resection?

At the end of 2021, the "Expert Consensus on the Surgical Treatment of Benign Gallbladder Diseases" was released. The new consensus emphasizes that cholecystectomy is the only curative method for benign gallbladder diseases , and indications should include asymptomatic gallbladder stones.

At present, there is no effective drug for the treatment of gallstones, and removal of the gallbladder can effectively prevent the progression of gallstones and reduce the possibility of gallstones becoming cancerous.

Elective gallbladder removal is recommended for patients with gallbladder stones who have the following risk factors for gallbladder cancer, even if they are asymptomatic:

• Stone diameter ≥ 3cm;
• Gallstones are more numerous and fill the gallbladder;
• Stones increase and increase year by year, combined with gallbladder dysfunction;
• Calcification of the gallbladder wall or porcelain gallbladder;
• Localized thickening of the gallbladder wall;
• Combined gallbladder polyps with a diameter of more than 1cm;
• Combined gallbladder polyps with a diameter of 6 mm to 10 mm and polyps growing;
• Combined with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Asymptomatic patients with stones of about 1cm to 2cm do not need deliberate treatment, do not need to take medicine, and do not need surgery. You only need to maintain good living habits and pay attention to regular checkups . Generally, B-ultrasound is checked once every six months to one year to observe the condition of gallstones and gallbladder.

Although gallstones are a common disease, their harm to the human body is not small at all.

Therefore, if you want to stay away from gallstones, you should develop good living habits, eat a healthy diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, and control tobacco and alcohol; work and rest healthy, go to bed early and get up early; have a healthy mood and maintain a happy mood; exercise healthy through exercise. Not only can help control weight, but also help to avoid cholestasis.

References:

[1] "Talking about Cholelithiasis from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine". Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2022-09-29

[2] "Removing the gallbladder will make people no longer have "guts"? ". The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. 2019-05-17

[3] "Gallstones have no symptoms, do you need surgery?" ". Digestive Liver Disease Channel in the Medical World. 2021-04-23

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