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The gallbladder is a small sac underneath your liver that stores and secretes bile, a digestive fluid that breaks down fats. Gallstones form when the chemical compounds in bile become unbalanced -- no one's sure exactly why this happens, but a fatty diet often exacerbates the problem. This HealthDay article notes that roughly 20 million Americans suffer from gallstones, and 750,000 of them have their gallbladders removed. One procedure for removing a gallbladder, called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy,
is a relatively straightforward affair. As gallbladder expert Dr. Mark Fusco explains, a tiny camera (laparoscope) is used to avoid large incisions. He also suggests that his patients "thoroughly cleanse" their umbilicus (belly button) prior to surgery. Since bile is actually produced by the liver, it's possible to survive without a gallbladder, but not without unpleasant digestive tract complications. Some patients suffer from dumping syndrome, in which food is "dumped" too quickly into the intestines from the stomach. The gallbladder is like a pump. Dr. Cynthia Foster observes that without it,
the liver can't secrete enough bile to properly digest a full meal and recommends herbal supplements. Many people without gallbladders have to control their diet and eat small snacks throughout the day, rather than large meals. Bile-challenged eaters should also avoid fatty foods.
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