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Gallbladders and Bile
Bile is produced in the liver, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine. Bile emulsifies the lipids in fatty food and makes it easier to digest. Unfortunately, the gallbladder can develop gallstones which can be tiny grains or as big as golf balls. Some cause no trouble but others may become life threatening.
838 Questions
Gallstone ileus, which results from a gallstone's blocking the entrance to the large intestine, is most common in elderly people. Surgery usually cures this condition.
Name test for bile pigments and bile salts?
test for bile salts - Hay's sulphur powder test n
test for bile pigments - fauchet's test
Why do people with gallstones experience problems digesting certain food?
When you eat, your gallbladder contracts and releases stored bile where it begins to help break down the fat in your food. The person might face problem in digesting fat globules...
What causes methan production?
methan is prodused by methane production organism called methenogenic(forget correct name).k.k.jain098482 61393
What is done in Partsch operation?
this operation is done for the treatment of cyst by Deroofing the cyst or creating a surgical window in the wall of cyst.
Does the gallbladder filter toxic substances?
The liver filters out toxic substances from the bloodstream. But tucked in against the liver is the much smaller gall bladder. The gall bladder makes and stores bile, which is sent to the digestive system to aid digestion of fats.
Kaye, gallstones are common (about 20% of women in developed countries). There are several types of gallstones, the most frequent being cholesterol gallstones. These can occur due to an imbalance of cholesterol and the agents that are responsible for dissolving cholesterol, both secreted by the liver. If there's too much cholesterol or too little of the dissolving agents, stones can form. Anything that causes stones to more rapidly form, like decreased function of the gallbladder or even an individual's tendency to form stones, will lead to gallstones. Less common types of gallstones stem from too much bilirubin (the breakdown product of blood) or some intestinal diseases. Gallstones are more common as we age and in females, and also with hormone therapy. Despite the role of cholesterol in forming most gallstones, there's no relationship between stone formation and cholesterol in the blood. The majority of people with gallstones, fortunately, don't have symptoms. So as long as the gallstones don't cause problems, there's nothing to worry about and nothing that needs to be done.
Scientists believe cholesterol stones form when bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should for some other reason.
Pigment StonesThe cause of pigment stones is uncertain. They tend to develop in people who have cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia, in which too much bilirubin is formed.
Other FactorsIt is believed that the mere presence of gallstones may cause more gallstones to develop. However, other factors that contribute to gallstones have been identified, especially for cholesterol stones.
- Obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women. A large clinical study showed that being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones. The most likely reason is that obesity tends to reduce the amount of bile salts in bile, resulting in more cholesterol. Obesity also decreases gallbladder emptying.
- Estrogen. Excess estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or Birth Control pills appears to increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement, both of which can lead to gallstones.
- Ethnicity. Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. In fact, they have the highest rate of gallstones in the United States. A majority of Native American men have gallstones by age 60. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70 percent of women have gallstones by age 30. Mexican American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.
- Gender. Women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men.
- Age. People over age 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people.
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs. Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in blood actually increase the amount of cholesterol secreted in bile. This in turn can increase the risk of gallstones.
- Diabetes. People with Diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids increase the risk of gallstones.
- Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during rapid weight loss, it causes the liver to secrete extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.
- Fasting. Fasting decreases gallbladder movement, causing the bile to become overconcentrated with cholesterol, which can lead to gallstones.
Too much eating Fatty Foods
Gallstones are caused by too much cholesterol or calcium in the bile your liver produces, which then can crystalize. Normally if they crystalize it happens in the gallbladder, but it could still happen in the ducts that connect your liver and your stomach.
It's not clear what causes gallstones to form. Doctors think gallstones may result when:
- Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your bile contains more cholesterol than can be dissolved, the cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones. Cholesterol in your bile has no relation to the levels of cholesterol in your blood.
- Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Bilirubin is a chemical that's produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders.
- Your gallbladder doesn't empty correctly. If your gallbladder doesn't empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated and this contributes to the formation of gallstones.
What is the difference between the liver bile and gall bladder bile?
The bile from the liver is not as concentrated as the bile that has been stored in the gall bladder.
Can gallstones delay your period?
No! but when you have gallstones! you have more PAIN during your period! :(
Why would doctors NOT want to remove a nonfunctional gallbladder?
The patient might have other issues that would make the surgery too risky. Or, they could just be too close to the end to justify it.
The stones could be trapped in the bile ducts or in severe cases the stones may have broken down, due to non treatment, & have turned to 'sand'. Surgery either way will take care of most of these things...
What is an extended gallbladder mean?
My 76 year old husband was hospitalized with severe right side pain. CT scan showed that he had an extended gallbadder. He also has a blood clot in his right lung. No stones identified. Can you tell me more about this extended gallbladder. Thanks, Patsy Darter
Is the patharchatta plant can be used for gall bladder stone?
The patharchatta plant is a medicinal plant which can be used to treat the gall bladder stone.
Can crohn's disease cause gallstones?
While Crohns itself may not cause gallstones. It is thought to be related to depletion of the bile salt pool due either to terminal ileal disease or after ileal resection. Bile acids are not absorbed normally, the body becomes depleted of bile acids, and less bile acids are secreted in bile. There are not enough bile acids to keep cholesterol dissolved in bile, and gallstones form. Symptoms of gall bladder disease can be masked by the similar symptoms of Crohn's. Many Crohns patients eventually have their gall bladder removed.
What is the medical term meaning red bile?
Bilirubin is the term given to red bile produced by hemolysis in the spleen.
biliverdin is the term given to green bile.
Why is the gallbladder a major organ of the endocrine system?
Few studies have demonstrated the secretion of FGF 19 from the GB. Classically FGF 19is secreted on distal ileum, playing a key role in postprandial negative feedback loops in the enterohepatic circuit, down regulating bile acids (BA) synthesis and providing relaxation of the gallbladder (GB). Moreover Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptors are expressed in GB mucosa establishing it as an endocrine organ.
Dr Soumen Das
Breast & Endocrine Surgeon
Kolkata,India
drsoumen_das@yahoo.co.in
Can vitamin C prevent gallbladder disease?
women who took daily vitamin C supplements were 34% less likely to contract gallbladder disease and gallstones, and that women deficient in ascorbic acid had an increased prevalence of gallbladder disease.
A lot of the I.V. fluids that they give you during the procedure will leave a metallic taste in your mouth this should go away in a couple of days or you should consult your doctor.
What type of surgery is associated with the gallbladder?
Generally the surgeon will remove your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is usually functionless from the gallstones and you are used to the same. So you will get no problem to adjust with the absence of gallbladder.
Is reflux a mixture of bile and pancreas juice?
Reflux typically refers to the backward flow of stomach contents, primarily acidic gastric juice, into the esophagus. While bile and pancreatic juice can contribute to digestive processes, they are not typically involved in standard gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, in some cases, especially with a condition called bile reflux, bile from the small intestine can mix with stomach acids and flow back into the stomach or esophagus. Thus, reflux can sometimes include bile, but it is not primarily a mixture of bile and pancreatic juice.
