What Happens to the Body After Gallbladder Removal? 3 Important Things to Know
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver. Although it plays an important role in digestion, it is not an organ that the body must have to survive.
Its main job is to store and concentrate bile, a digestive fluid produced continuously by the liver. When you eat, particularly a meal containing fat, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile through the bile ducts into the small intestine. There, bile helps the body digest and absorb fats.
When the gallbladder becomes diseased, however, the situation can change. Gallstones, repeated inflammation, infection, or other gallbladder problems can cause significant pain and complications. In some cases, doctors recommend removing the gallbladder, a procedure known as cholecystectomy.
