What is Gallbladder pathology?

The gallbladder is a small pouch located under the liver. This stores the bile produced by the liver and secretes this in the gut when the digestion starts. This is essential as helps the digestion of food
(especially fat). Gallbladder diseases include inflammation, infection or conditions related to a blockage or obstructive stone.

Patients can present to the doctor with:

• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Gallstones (presence of stones within the gallbladder)
• Peri cholecystic abscesses
• Growth of abnormal tissue within the gallbladder
• Tumour of the gallbladders

Patients often present with intermittent pain in the upper abdomen, near the right rib cage. Some patients can also present with nausea or vomiting. Between 1 and 3% of patients suffering from gallstones, can develop an inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis). This usually occurs only when stones or sludge get blocked in the gallbladder duct. The symptoms can be the same of
the above but can be more severe and patients can have fever and other septic symptoms.
An examination, blood tests and ultrasound imaging normally make a diagnosis. Surgery may be warranted to remove the gallbladder. In 98% of the cases, surgery can be performed laparoscopically. Mr Leo performs this surgery only for benign pathology and often uses 3 mm size instrument guarantying smaller skin incision and better cosmetic results.