Gallbladder Removal

Women across the United States have developed gallbladder problems while on Yaz and Yasmin birth control. In many cases the damage to the gallbladder has required gallbladder removal surgery. Gall bladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones, or obstructions of the gallbladder. We are currently filing lawsuits on behalf of women who have suffered from gallbladder problems while on the Yaz and Yasmin birth control pill.

The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Bile aids in the digestion of fats, and is released from the gallbladder into the upper small intestine (duodenum) in response to food (especially fats). Conditions that slow or obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.

Types of gallbladder disease include:
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cholelithiasis (gallstones)

Acute cholecystitis is a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes severe abdominal pain. In 90% of cases, acute cholecystitis is caused by gallstones in the gallbladder. Severe illness, alcohol abuse, and, rarely, tumors of the gallbladder may also cause cholecystitis. Cholelithiasis is the presence of one or more gallstones in the gallbladder.

Acute cholecystitis causes bile to become trapped in the gallbladder. The buildup of bile causes irritation and pressure in the gallbladder. This can lead to bacterial infection and perforation of the organ. Although cholecystitis may clear up on its own, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is usually needed when inflammation continues or recurs.

Symptoms of gallbladder disease include:
• abdominal pain
• chest pain under the breastbone
• chills and shaking
• fever
• heartburn
• nausea and vomiting

How is gallbladder disease diagnosed?
• abdominal x-ray
• abdominal ultrasound
• abdominal CT scan
• complete blood count test

How are gallstones treated?

Surgery

If you have gallstones without symptoms, you do not require treatment. If you are having frequent gallbladder attacks, your doctor will likely recommend you have your gallbladder removed—an operation called a cholecystectomy. Once the gallbladder is removed, bile flows out of the liver through the hepatic ducts into the common bile duct and directly into the small intestine, instead of being stored in the gallbladder.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Nonsurgical approaches are used only in special situations—such as when a patient has a serious medical condition preventing surgery—and only for cholesterol stones. Stones commonly recur within 5 years in patients treated nonsurgically.

• Oral dissolution therapy. Drugs made from bile acid are used to dissolve gallstones. The drugs ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix) work best for small cholesterol stones. Months or years of treatment may be necessary before all the stones dissolve. Both drugs may cause mild diarrhea, and chenodiol may temporarily raise levels of blood cholesterol and the liver enzyme transaminase.

• Contact dissolution therapy. This experimental procedure involves injecting a drug directly into the gallbladder to dissolve cholesterol stones. The drug—methyl tert-butyl ether—can dissolve some stones in 1 to 3 days, but it causes irritation and some complications have been reported. The procedure is being tested in symptomatic patients with small stones.

We represent all women suffering from Yaz and Yasmin side effects that resulted in gallbladder removal on a contingency basis which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation case review please call toll free at 1-888-343-5375 or fill out our short online contact form and a Yaz/Yasmin lawyer will contact you to answer any of your questions.

*Gallbladder disease information provided by the National Institute of Health