The gallbladder is a small pouch in the abdomen area which lies beneath the liver and stores bile. Bile is produced by the liver which helps break down fatty food.
If the bile carried from your gallbladder to your intestine gets too concentrated and blocks the bile duct – gallstones are then formed in the gallbladder.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are severe abdominal pain, sickness and fever. Once you’ve been diagnosed with gallstones, surgery to remove your gallbladder may be required.
Treatment options
The operation is called a laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy. Four small incisions are made in your abdomen to allow access to remove the gallbladder. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia so you won’t feel any pain.
With keyhole surgery you will recover faster than if you have open surgery. There is a 5% chance of needing to convert to an open operation if there are difficulties with the surgery. In this case, a six-inch incision is made below the right rib and you will need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery.
You can live a normal life without your gallbladder.
Useful Resources
NHS Choices – Gallstones (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/)