Gallbladder surgery can treat a variety of conditions, most of which come under the umbrella of gallbladder disease. Your gallbladder sits next to your liver, storing a liquid called bile that helps digest fat. Bile travels down short tubes (bile ducts) to reach your small intestine. Gallbladder disease interferes with the function of your gallbladder.
Gallbladder diseases that most frequently require surgery include:GallstonesGallstones (cholelithiasis) form from cholesterol (a type of fatty residue) in your bloodstream. Initially, they can be as small as a grain of sand, but they can grow as big as a golf ball. If gallstones block the bile ducts, they can cause severe pain.
CholecystitisAcute attacks of cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) may be a response to gallstones or other conditions, such as gallbladder cancer. If you suffer frequent cholecystitis, it can lead to shrinkage of the gallbladder, affecting how the organ works.
CholedocholithiasisGallstones that get caught in your bile ducts or the neck of your gallbladder stop bile from leaving, leading to a buildup that causes distension and inflammation of the gallbladder, or choledocholithiasis. The condition can be agonizingly painful and cause fever, jaundice, and vomiting.
CancerAnother common reason for needing gallbladder surgery is cancer, where cells in your gallbladder mutate and multiply aggressively. Cancer that spreads beyond the gallbladder could be life-threatening, so surgery is often essential.