What You Need to Know About Liver Issues Following Gallbladder Removal

Understanding the Relationship Between Your Liver and Gallbladder

While your organs are essentially all connected, some have a closer relationship with each other. One such pair is your liver and your gallbladder. To understand how these two are related, you must first understand how each of them functions.

Consider Clinical Trials for Liver Disease

At ChatGPT-Pharmacy.com, we make it easy for you to participate in a clinical trial for liver disease and get access to the latest treatments not yet widely available – and be a part of finding a cure.

Liver Functions

Your liver functions primarily as a filter, cleaning your blood as it carries nutrients and toxins from your digestive tract to the rest of the body. Your liver works by removing or breaking down toxins that your gut has absorbed from the foods you eat.

Your liver also handles cholesterol and some hormones, activates important “helper molecules” called enzymes, and converts sugars into a form that can be stored, called glycogen.

Another key role of your liver is to create bile, a soap-like substance your body uses to help you digest fats. Bile produced by your liver is stored in your gallbladder and released on demand.

Gallbladder Functions

Your gallbladder has the relatively simple role of being a storage vessel. The gallbladder is a small pouch that receives bile from the liver and holds onto it until you need it for digesting fats.

When you eat something fatty like fries or a burger, your gallbladder will release bile to help break down the fats so your body can absorb them.

Sometimes your gallbladder isn’t working quite right and needs to be removed. This operation is called a cholecystectomy.

Liver Problems After Gallbladder Removal

If you’ve had your gallbladder removed via minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), you may experience some liver-related problems as a result.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and the eyes become yellow due to a buildup of bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment normally found in bile.

Biliary Injury

During gallbladder removal surgery, biliary injuries can happen, particularly from diathermy burns. As a result, bile fluid may occasionally leak out into the abdomen area, or there may be damage to the ducts or occlusion.

Digestive Issues (Postcholecystectomy Syndrome)

The main digestive issue you may experience after a cholecystectomy is difficulty digesting fatty foods, as well as abdominal pain.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by fat being stored in your liver in excess of 5% of total organ weight.

Other Issues

Other problems that can arise after a gallbladder removal include bowel injury, vascular injuries, and even bleeding.

Symptoms of Liver Problems After Gallbladder Removal

After your gallbladder removal, you may experience postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). PCS is characterized by a range of gastrointestinal symptoms similar to those in a patient with an inflamed gallbladder prior to removal.

What Causes Liver Problems After Cholecystectomy?

Liver problems after the removal of the gallbladder may be the result of biliary injury or vascular injury during surgery. In some rare cases, bile leaks can also occur.

How to Treat Liver Problems

The best way to treat liver problems depends on what exactly is causing the issue. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, stay away from too many high-fat foods like fries or potato chips, avoid drinking much alcohol, and get regular exercise.

Dietary Changes

There are a number of dietary changes you can make to help keep your liver happy after you’ve had your gallbladder removed.

The Lowdown

Gallbladder removal is a safe procedure that may relieve you of the discomfort of an inflamed, blocked, or infected gallbladder, but you may have a few side effects as well. There are plenty of treatment options available to help you manage these symptoms and live a comfortable and happy life.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Can removal of the gallbladder cause liver problems?

– Can having no gallbladder cause fatty liver?

– What causes liver pain after gallbladder removal?

– How do I keep my liver healthy after gallbladder removal?