How does it feel after gallbladder removal at age 30?
The gallbladder is a crucial organ in the body, primarily responsible for storing and concentrating bile, which is then secreted to aid in the digestion of food. Removal of the gallbladder due to severe gallbladder diseases can have certain impacts on human health. Notably, it can affect the digestion of fats and predispose individuals to reflux gastritis. Let's delve into the consequences of gallbladder removal in a 30-year-old individual.
1. Impaired Digestion of Fatty Foods: The gallbladder plays a vital role in storing and concentrating bile to meet the body's demands during digestion. Following gallbladder removal, bile loses its storage space and enters the intestines directly, leading to insufficient bile during mealtime and consequently affecting digestion, particularly the digestion of fats. This can result in fatty diarrhea and a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins.
2. Alkaline Reflux Gastritis: Partial removal of the stomach can lead to alkaline reflux gastritis. Normally, after eating, the gallbladder contracts to concentrate and release bile into the intestines. This process coordinates with the secretion and motility of the stomach and duodenum. However, after gallbladder removal, bile continuously enters the intestines without the neutralization of food and gastric acid. This can lead to bile deposition in the duodenum and subsequent reflux into the stomach, raising the pH level in the stomach, promoting bacterial growth, and causing inflammation, edema, and fragility of the gastric mucosa, leading to atrophy of gastric glands and ulcer formation. Many studies have shown a significant increase in bile acid levels in patients who have undergone gallbladder removal, accompanied by decreased gastric acid secretion and damage to gastric mucosal cells.
3. Potential Increase in Colon Cancer Risk: Retrospective analysis of colon cancer cases has revealed a connection between gallbladder removal and colon cancer risk. Among 700 colon cancer cases studied, 6,000 patients had a history of gallbladder removal. Notably, patients who had their gallbladder removed for over 10 years and were over 90 years old showed a continued increase in the ratio of intestinal tumors and cancer compared to those who had not undergone gallbladder removal. Furthermore, women who had their gallbladder removed over 10 years ago exhibited a 70% higher risk of colon cancer compared to the general female population, with a two-fold increase in the incidence of right-sided colon cancer. Although a definitive conclusion has not been reached, this association between gallbladder removal and colon cancer should be taken seriously.
4. Liver Injury: It is well-established that lithocholic acid has toxic effects on the liver. After gallbladder removal, there is an increase in secondary bile acids in the intestine, which enter the liver through the enterohepatic circulation, leading to chronic liver injury.
5. Increased Risk of Stone Formation in Bile: Following gallbladder removal, there is a significant reduction in the bile salt pool, resulting in decreased bile acid concentration in the hepatobiliary duct and reduced solubility of cholesterol. This predisposes individuals to the formation of stones. The absence of a gallbladder alters the bile's concentration and solubility properties, making it less effective in dissolving cholesterol and increasing the risk of crystallization and stone formation.
