The Gallbladder is an organ that stores bile made by your liver, and secrets it on demand when you eat a fatty meal.

Many issues can arise with the gallbladder.

The presence of gallstones, or an abnormally functioning gallbladder, can cause abdominal pain, usually in the right upper quadrant, usually after eating, that is crampy in nature. The pain subsides in 30 minutes or so for most. This is called biliary colic.

The stones can also get lodged in the gallbladder, causing the gallbladder to get inflamed or infected. Symptoms include right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, fevers and chills. This is called acute cholecystitis, and can be a surgical emergency.

Gallstones can also move through the biliary system, and cause pancreatitis- inflammation of the pancreas, or cholangitis- inflammation and infection of the biliary system.

The mainstay of treatment for most gallbladder issues is removing the gallbladder, or a cholecystectomy. This is done minimally invasively with small incisions, and is typically a very well tolerated procedure. Most patients go home the same day, and have minimal pain.