The gallbladder is not optional, what will be the impact on the human body after removal? These 4 'endings' are not good

The 53-year-old Lao Wang is a local small contractor. Sometimes he is too busy to eat breakfast, but he likes to add braised pork for lunch. Even his wife often says that he eats too greasy.

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

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

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

Doctor: "Bring it to me to see... In your case, it is recommended to remove it."

Pharaoh: "Doctor, I want to ask if I can cut it? Can I just take medicine?"

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

Pharaoh: " But I heard others say that it is easy to get bowel cancer if it is removed! Then... I got bowel cancer after removing that thing. Isn't it worth the loss!"

Doctor: " ...So many patients have had their gallbladder removed. Have you ever seen a few who got bowel cancer? You are more likely to get gallbladder cancer if you don't remove it, which is much more serious than bowel cancer! "

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

1. Many people's gallstones are "made"

The most common gallstones are gallstones, including gallstones, intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones. The incidence of gallstones is as high as 6.5%, and this proportion increases with age. The incidence of gallstones in people over 70 years old is as high as 11.2% .

What are gallstones?

Cholecystolithiasis is a gallstone disease that occurs in the biliary system. Any factors that cause changes in the ratio of cholesterol to bile acid concentration and cholestasis can lead to the formation of gallstones in the gallbladder.

70% of patients with gallbladder stones have no obvious symptoms, but if left unchecked, the gallbladder stones will continue to "enlarge", which may block the neck of the gallbladder or the cystic duct, thereby causing biliary colic . Persistent cramps in the right upper quadrant or upper abdomen, which worsen after meals or when eating greasy food.

So what causes gallstones to appear?

The causes of gallstones are very complex, most of which are related to irregular diet , such as taking snacks as staple food, loving desserts, skipping breakfast, like greasy food, long-term vegetarian diet, not drinking water, etc. At the same time, it may also be related to emotions, such as old sullenness and long-term depression.

2. What happens to the body when the gallbladder is removed?

First, let's take a look at the consequences of not removing the gallbladder.

Many stone patients refuse cholecystectomy for fear of affecting digestive function. In fact, the gallbladder with gallstones has often lost its original function 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, empyema, necrosis and perforation of the gallbladder can occur, which can be life-threatening. Once the gallbladder is blocked, acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis and acute pancreatitis may also occur, and the mortality rate is as high as 50%.

In addition, gallbladders with stones are more likely to develop cancer .

The long-term presence of stones in the gallbladder means that the long-term recurrence of gallbladder obstruction and biliary colic can easily lead to chronic fibrosis of the gallbladder, abnormal morphology and function, and form a vicious circle, which leads to an increased risk of cancer.

But the gallbladder is not optional. In the past, the gallbladder was more considered an organ that stores, contracts, excretes and concentrates bile, but with research, it has been found that the gallbladder can also help process bile, promote digestion, regulate biliary pressure, and strengthen the body's immune system.

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 its regulation and flow into the intestinal tract continuously, causing irritation to the intestinal tract, and the patient will always have diarrhea. And when bile is needed, bile is not available, and the stomach is always bloated.

2. Bile reflux

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

3. Postoperative gallbladder syndrome

After cholecystectomy, it may cause postoperative symptoms and cause discomfort in the upper abdomen or right upper quadrant of the patient.

4. More prone to colon cancer

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

3. "Preserving the gallbladder" or "cutting the gallbladder"?

Patients with cholecystolithiasis have no feeling for a long time, which also makes many patients hesitant whether they really need surgery?

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

At present, there is no effective drug for the treatment of gallstones, and gallbladder removal 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;
• There are more stones that fill the gallbladder;
• Stones increase and enlarge year by year, combined with gallbladder dysfunction;
• Gallbladder wall calcification or porcelain gallbladder;
• Local thickening of the gallbladder wall;
• Combined with gallbladder polyps with a diameter of more than 1cm;
• Combined with gallbladder polyps with a diameter of 6mm to 10mm and polyp growth;
• 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. Just keep good living habits and pay attention to regular inspections . Generally, B-ultrasound is checked once every six months to a year to observe the situation 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, control tobacco and alcohol; have a healthy routine, go to bed early and get up early; stay healthy, keep your mood happy; exercise healthily, 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 "gut"? ". The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. 2019-05-17

[3] "Cholecystolithiasis has no symptoms, do I need surgery? ". Digestive and Liver Disease Channel in the Medical Profession. 2021-04-23

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