Gallbladder Role
The role of the gallbladder is to collect and store bile, which is a waste-removing fluid produced in the liver as part of the digestive process. The bile is ushered from the gallbladder to the small intestine. When gallbladder stones develop and continually block the flow of bile, it becomes necessary to remove the gallbladder entirely. This process, known as cholecystectomy, is typically performed with a laser, and the patient usually goes home on the same day.
Problems
When the gallbladder is removed, an essential tool in the digestive process is removed from the body. Removal of the gallbladder interrupts the regular flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine. Additionally, abnormalities such as a bile leak can occur following a gallbladder removal. The bile can leak into the stomach and esophagus. The opposite problem can also occur, in which bile builds up and is not released from the body properly. Finally, the body experiences a smaller amount of bile flowing into the small intestine. Whereas normally the bile would be stored in the small intestine and released after a meal as needed, following a cholecystectomy, this is no longer the case. Failure to adequately absorb fat contributes to the bowel problems.
PCS
As a result of the bile flow being interrupted, patients develop postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). PCS is the name given to a group of symptoms following the removal of the gallbladder, which may include any of the following: diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, nausea, or fever. These symptoms sometimes begin immediately following surgery, but sometimes onset does not take place until years later.
Dietary Causes
Patients can help reduce their postsurgery symptoms by cutting back on foods that may induce gastrointestinal problems, including those that contain dairy, alcohol, or caffeine, or those that are very sweet or very greasy. These foods are rich in products that need to be eliminated by the body, and without the gallbladder, the body is already under stress during elimination. The build-up of these foods causes additional stress, and stress in the gastrointestinal system translates to bowel problems. Foods that are high in fat should also be avoided after gallbladder removal to prevent causing diarrhea caused by the body's inability to produce enough bile to absorb the fat.
Prevention
Often doctors will recommend that patients use over-the-counter medications to alleviate their symptoms, such as Imodium. If the symptoms are more severe, medications that regulate the body's absorption of bile acids may be prescribed.
