The most common disease seen in bile is gallstones. Gallbladder stones come in two forms: cholesterol and bilirubin-containing stones, and the most common gallstones are cholesterol stones. As age progresses, stones are more likely to occur in women than in men.
Gallbladder stones occur with abdominal pain. The pain is felt on the right side of the abdomen, and in inflamed gallstones the pain is constant and severe. Apart from these, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, jaundice and inflamed gallbladder stones may occur.
The patient with suspected gallstones is diagnosed with abdominal ultrasonography. In patients with obstructive jaundice, the diagnosis is made by MRI/MRCP and ERCP examinations.
Gallbladder stones may sometimes remain without any symptoms, but in some cases they may cause undesirable complications. These diseases can be listed as gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis), gallbladder perforation due to inflammation, obstructive jaundice, acute pancreatitis, and gallbladder cancer.
The treatment method for gallstones that cause complaints or complications is cholecystectomy and is performed laparoscopically. Cholecystectomy is as successful as open surgery and can be easily performed on patients of all ages, including pregnant women (in the 2nd trimester), children, adults and the elderly.
It has led to the opinion that silent gallstones that do not cause any complaints should be followed up regularly, as biliary surgeries are the most common type of surgery in the world. Due to the risk that this disease may have fatal consequences such as acute pancreatitis and gallbladder cancer, the most accurate decision about the process is made by the physician together with the patient, and regular follow-up of silent gallbladder stones is very important in this respect.
Gallbladder Inflammation (Acute Cholecystitis)
Acute inflammation of the gallbladder is called acute cholecystitis. As a result of the infection, thickening and edema occur in the gallbladder wall. In most patients, this condition occurs due to gallstones, but in some cases, cholecystitis may develop for different reasons. Acute cholecystitis is an emergency and serious condition, and in such a situation, patients should be taken under immediate surveillance. The treatment of the disease is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Apart from this, antibiotic support is also given.
Bile Duct Injury
Bile tract injuries mostly occur as a result of undesirable situations during cholecystectomy. Generally, epileptic injuries may occur due to technical errors and anatomical differences. As a result of bile injury, bile flows into the abdomen and can cause severe abdominal pain. In such a case, urgent intervention is required. For the diagnosis of bile duct injury, methods suitable for the biliary tract such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, ERCP, MRCP are used.
There are different options for surgical treatment methods for bile duct injury, and the person who will determine the most appropriate treatment method is the physician. In a simple biliary injury, if the integrity of the bile duct is not compromised, the patient's condition is monitored. In some patients, the condition improves completely. If the bile leakage is more serious, ERCP and biliary stent placement may be required. If appropriate surgical intervention is not performed in bile duct injury, it may lead to diseases such as biliary tract inflammation, jaundice, liver failure and cirrhosis.
Gallbladder Obstruction Jaundice
The disease that occurs when bile flow to the intestine stops due to an obstruction in the main bile ducts is called obstructive jaundice. As a result of the blockage, yellowing of the skin occurs and may cause deterioration in the liver tissue in the long term. Obstructive jaundice may be caused by a tumor in the bile, pancreas, or liver. In people with obstructive jaundice, stool color turns white and urine color turns dark. Diagnosis is made by methods such as abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, MRI, MRCP and ERCP.
Bile Duct Cysts
Bile tract cysts occur as a result of abnormal expansion of the main bile ducts and bile ducts within the liver. Bile tract cysts, the exact cause of which is unknown, may appear as a condition that can develop both at birth and later on. Biliary tract symptoms may occur as biliary tract inflammation, liver abscess, fever, and biliary tract obstruction. Methods such as abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, MRI, MRCP and ERCP are used for diagnosis. Since bile duct cysts carry a risk of cancer, the cyst must be completely removed by surgery.
Gallbladder Cancer
Malignant tumors formed in the gallbladder wall cause gallbladder cancer. Risk factors that cause the disease are gallbladder stones, polyps, and obesity. The most common symptoms of gallbladder cancer are jaundice and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of the disease is made using abdominal ultrasonography, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, MRCP and ERCP methods. The main treatment method for gallbladder cancer is surgical intervention. If the malignant tumor is only on the inner surface of the gallbladder wall, removal of the gallbladder is sufficient in early stage cancer, but in cases where the tumor progresses to the gallbladder duct and involves the liver tissue, a part of the liver tissue can be removed along with the gallbladder. In advanced cancer patients who cannot be operated on, endoscopic procedures, painkillers and radiological methods can be used to relieve pain.
