Why does the gallbladder collapse?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by a Doctor of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
Collapsed gallbladder is one of the common gallbladder conditions. There are many causes of this condition, including physiological and pathological causes. Depending on the specific case, the doctor will recommend the appropriate treatment plan for the patient.

1. What is a collapsed gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a small, bag-shaped organ located in the upper right part of the abdomen (underside of the liver). The job of the gallbladder is to concentrate and store bile that is secreted by the liver. When we eat, especially consume fatty foods, the gallbladder will contract to push the bile contained therein into the bile duct, pour down the duodenum, mix with food to digest fat. . Therefore, if there is a problem with the gallbladder, it will directly affect the health of each person.
Collapsed gallbladder is a condition in which the gallbladder does not produce bile or is unable to secrete bile. Gallbladder collapse causes temporary loss of gallbladder function. This can affect the body's process of digesting food and directly affect the patient's health.

2. Collapsed gallbladder symptoms

Collapsed gallbladder causes symptoms similar to other gallbladder diseases such as: Abdominal pain, bloating, delayed digestion, risk of gallbladder inflammation and infection,... Namely:
Pain: Occurrence in most gallbladder diseases, including atelectasis. The pain usually occurs in the right upper middle part of the abdomen, and can be mild and intermittent or severe, continuous. In other cases, abdominal pain may spread to the chest and back; Abnormally colored stools or urine: When there is a problem with the gallbladder, the person's stools will be pale and the urine will become darker. These are all signs of blocked bile; Jaundice: A sign of bile stasis due to gallbladder collapse; Other symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, fever or chills, chronic diarrhea.

3. Why does the gallbladder collapse?

Determining the exact cause of the gallbladder collapse will help the doctor have the most appropriate treatment plan. Specifically, a collapsed gallbladder can come from the following causes:
Physiological causes: Before going to the ultrasound, to check the health, the patient has eaten full, especially eating fatty foods. such as eggs, milk, fast food, ... Because food entering the digestive tract will stimulate the gallbladder to contract, expelling the stored bile, entering the intestinal tract to digest food, so the gallbladder will no longer have fluid. bile and shrink. Therefore, on the obtained ultrasound image, the gallbladder will be deflated; Pathological causes: The gallbladder is inflamed due to gallstones, the gallbladder wall is thick, no longer able to contract and store bile, causing the gallbladder to gradually shrink. In this case, the doctor will have direct advice on the appropriate treatment plan for the patient. To determine the exact cause of the gallbladder collapse, the patient should go to the hospital to perform an ultrasound and accurate examination. Before the ultrasound, the patient should fast for at least 6 hours to get the most accurate results.

4. What to do when detecting a collapsed gallbladder?

Eat white meats and lean, fat-free meats; Increase the intake of foods rich in fiber, add more plant proteins such as beans, stewed beans to the diet; Drink enough 2 liters of water per day to increase bile circulation; Should eat foods containing a lot of glucid because they are easy to digest, do not adversely affect bile; Do not use chocolate or cocoa; Do not use powdered food mixed with eggs because it causes indigestion. Dietary adjustments should be made as soon as a collapsed gallbladder is detected to avoid the risk of gallbladder dysfunction, fat digestion and general health. And when detecting symptoms of gallbladder collapse, patients should go to major hospitals for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, at the facilities of Vinmec International General Hospital, there are Hepatobiliary Screening Packages performed by a team of highly specialized and experienced doctors in the field of screening for liver and gallbladder diseases. With the support of equipment, modern medical facilities will help accurately identify problems related to the gallbladder.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.