After removal of the gallbladder, biliary diarrhea occurs in almost every person who has survived this operation. At first, this is considered normal, since the patient’s gastrointestinal tract has not yet tuned into new conditions. But in the future, this problem needs to be solved, and not necessarily a long and expensive therapy. ICD-10 postcholecystectomy syndrome is referred to as K91.5.
What leads to surgery
Despite the fact that postcholecystectomy syndrome, according to ICD-10, is not an independent disease, it leads to it for a very specific reason - gallstone disease. And if at the initial stage it can be controlled, then with the development of pathology, the removal of the gallbladder completely becomes an extreme measure.
Gallstone disease is characterized by the presence of small stones in the body that can block the bile ducts. Sometimes stones form immediately in the bile ducts, which accelerates the appearance of characteristic symptoms.
Causes of gallstone disease
Single and multiple gallstones can appear for several reasons:
- Old age man. The older it is, the greater the likelihood of stone formation, and more often this occurs in women.
- Formations in the bile ducts and bladder can be a hereditary disease. That is, not the stones themselves are transmitted from generation to generation, but a predisposition to their appearance
- Violation of proper nutrition. The presence in the human diet of excessively fatty foods, proteins.
- The reverse situation of overeating is starvation. Passion for mono-diets and monotonous nutrition, for example, vegetarianism.
- Alcoholism.
- A sedentary lifestyle associated with work.
- Disruption of the small intestine - all kinds of colitis, often accompanied by impaired stool.
- Diabetes mellitus and other systemic diseases.
Symptoms of cholecystitis and gallstone disease
Inflammation of the gallbladder and blockage of its ducts with stones have common symptoms, after which you should immediately consult a doctor.
First of all, it’s a pain. It is localized in the right hypochondrium, but sometimes it is reflected under the right collarbone or in the shoulder. The pain worsens in the evening or in the morning. It is sharp, aching, twitching. Pain can be exacerbated by a change in body position, before eating or after eating
The pain causes a constant tension of the abdominal muscles, which naturally enhances the discomfort of the patient. Belching, nausea, vomiting, bloating occur.
Against the background of all these conditions, a person does not get enough sleep, becomes irritable, distracted, experiences general weakness in the limbs. The patient's skin becomes dry, peeling with a clear, yellow tint. A frequent symptom is loose stools, up to 10 times a day.
Diagnosis of the disease
Diagnosis of the presence of stones in the gallbladder is a process that includes a number of specific studies, both laboratory and instrumental. First of all, the doctor collects an anamnesis, during which he finds out the history of his family’s diseases, the patient’s daily regimen, and his diet. Then, by palpation, he determines the source of pain in the patient.
In the laboratory, blood samples determine its biochemical composition, as well as the level of protein and bilirubin in it. Instrumental methods of research include ultrasound and computed tomography - it reflects in more detail the internal state of the gallbladder and ducts.
Gallstone disease treatment
An appropriate diet and drug therapy helps reduce the rate of gallstone formation. But if the stones have already formed and block the bile ducts, the only effective way to eliminate the problem is to have a surgical operation to remove the gallbladder. It makes no sense to remove only the stones, because once they have formed, then this is the metabolism of a person, and they will certainly appear again. A surgical operation is a rather dangerous procedure, and often it cannot be done. That is why doctors recommend immediately performing cholecystectomy - removal of the gallbladder.
Modern medical science has long been using the method of laparoscopy, that is, the removal of internal organs with special devices equipped with a micro camera and introduced using long tubes. With this procedure, there are no long-healing scars, it is almost bloodless, and most importantly, the rehabilitation period does not exceed 2 weeks. The main disadvantage of this method is the lack of qualified specialists who are able to use this technique.
Causes of diarrhea after cholecystectomy
Biliary diarrhea after removal of the gallbladder appears due to the fact that after the procedure, a certain malfunction occurs in the gastrointestinal tract.
This is because the role of the gallbladder is that it accumulates in itself and improves the concentration of bile necessary for the digestion of food. It enters the stomach only under certain conditions, and before that it is held in the organ itself. After its removal, the liver continues to synthesize this important element of gastric juice, but now it enters the stomach in its pure form. Juice changes its consistency and causes a liquefaction of feces.
Thus, bile diarrhea after removal of the gallbladder is a natural condition caused by the features of human anatomy. Only one question remains. What to do and what to do with diarrhea after removal of the gallbladder? You can’t live with this for many years.
How is diarrhea determined
First of all, you need to make sure that it is bile diarrhea that occurs after removal of the gallbladder, and not another systemic disorder.
Such diarrhea has a number of characteristic signs:
- Firstly, it is accompanied by increased flatulence.
- Secondly, attacks of diarrhea can be up to 5-6 times a day.
- Thirdly, in the fecal masses there may be blood, green veins, there is a characteristic smell.
- Fourth, defecation is accompanied by pain in the right hypochondrium.
But, as already noted, all this is considered the norm after the procedure. However, if in the first days after the operation to remove the gallbladder, diarrhea is normal, then after 10 days you need to fight it, otherwise a person may develop peptic ulcer or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
What causes diarrhea after cholecystectomy?
The causes of diarrhea after removal of the gallbladder are known - an imbalance in the level of bile in the digestive tract. But there are a number of factors that provoke its extension for a period of up to several months.
First of all, it is alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking. The condition of the body will deteriorate sharply if you still poison it with ethyl alcohol and nicotine.
Another factor is malnutrition. Spicy spices and fatty foods should not be abused.
The correct diet after cholecystectomy for the first time for three months or more is not always able to return a person to normal feces if his age is already far beyond 60. After all, the older the person, the slower his regeneration system works. What to do if diarrhea after removal of the gallbladder does not pass in elderly patients, a narrow specialist knows - a gerontologist.
You can’t immediately begin physical labor and sports after the operation. This will slow down the normalization of the stool. It is imperative to wait for the full recovery and tuning the gastrointestinal tract to a new lifestyle. Only then can weights and physical exercises be lifted.
Recovery of the digestive tract through diet
Often the most effective therapy is a diet after cholecystectomy for the first time for three months. It is calculated by a specialist individually, taking into account the age of the patient, his general condition and the presence of chronic diseases.
The patient who underwent surgery should eat low-fat dairy products, boiled porridge from oats and buckwheat, boiled meat. Baked apples and bananas are very useful. You need to eat vegetable soups with a small amount of meat.
Nutrition after cholecystectomy should be built so that a person ate 5-6 times a day in small portions. This will not overload the stomach and normalizes the bowel.
How to stop diarrhea after gallbladder removal? Refuse spicy seasonings, sweet carbonated drinks, pastries with baking, fatty meats and fish, lard, smoked sausages, preservatives, ketchup and mayonnaise. The listed products and a healthy person can lead to chronic diarrhea and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and bring the patient to a critical state in general. Therefore, you must strictly follow all the recommendations of a dietitian.
Elimination of diarrhea with medication
If, despite the prescribed diet, loose stools do not pass for a long time, what should be done in such a situation? In this case, the doctor may prescribe any medicine for diarrhea to the patient.
Usually, the goal of such therapy is to clear the liver of toxins and toxins. Usually prescribed "Smecta", "Polysorb" or "Enterosgel." Dosage and dosage regimen are determined by the doctor. For the normal excretion of bile, a course of "Alohol" and "Liobila" is prescribed.
The treatment complex necessarily includes some probiotic: Hilak Forte, Creon, Bactistatin, Beefiform or Linex. In addition, the patient is shown plenty of water to help restore electrolytes in the blood.
Prevention of gallstone disease
To prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder, a number of preventive measures must be observed. To do this, you need to eat right, do not abuse fatty, fried, meat, hot spices. It is advisable not to get carried away with sweets and pastries. Eat porridge, fresh vegetables and fruits more often. It is necessary to completely abandon alcohol and cigarettes.
It is necessary to regularly engage in sports, especially if work and daily activities are associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
It is advisable to undergo a preventive medical examination at least once a year. It is necessary to check the state of the kidneys, liver, pancreas and, most importantly, the gall bladder using ultrasound.
To prevent this disease, you can use herbal teas and infusions. For example, prepare a mixture of herbs (lemon balm, chamomile and peppermint) in equal proportions. Then brew a full tablespoon of this mixture with a glass of boiling water and insist for about an hour. Take a glass of infusion before bedtime.
Subject to the listed preventive measures and maintaining the right lifestyle, it is possible to avoid unpleasant problems after cholecystectomy.