Gall bladder surgery is STILL the most common surgery in America. Gall bladder disease is very common in this country due to our diet heavy in fatty foods and high cholesterol foods. Our sedentary life style also plays an important role in the high incidence of gall stones. The gallbladder stores and releases bile into the intestine. The bile aids in the digestion of fats in our diet. Trouble comes when the bile, cholesterol, lecithin and water are present in the gall bladder in abnormal amounts. The cholesterol can precipitate and form crystals and eventually stones (gallstones) which can then cause great problems! About 20 million people in America have gallstones; they are more commonly found in women. Most gallstones never cause any symptoms and hence many people with gallstones never have surgery. Pain, fever, infection are some of the more serious consequences of gallstones that might force the need for surgery. But in most people, if you are not having any symptoms from the gallstones, don't go "looking" for trouble (there are some special groups of patients who should have the gallstones and gallbladder removed even if there are no symptoms). Sometimes the gallbladder causes symptoms that are very vague: symptoms can sound like heart burn or like a heart attack. Sometimes the symptoms are "classic": pain in the right upper abdomen ½ hour after eating a fatty meal (like pizza). These symptoms might last for several hours and then gradually resolve.
