Low HIDA scan with cck ejection fraction result

[jraslevin]

What could a low ejection fraction rate of 13% possibly mean? Can it be caused by low weight (which was caused by the symptoms which led to the weight loss and caused the doctor to order the test!)?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A low gallbladder ejection fraction suggests that the gallbladder isn't squeezing enough to expel the necessary amounts of bile.

It can lead to persistent abdominal pain and discomfort.

There are some small studies that suggest removing the gallbladder can lead to a resolution of symptoms, but this does not apply to every case.

This can be discussed with your personal physician or in consultation with a GI physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd

[jraslevin]

Could the low ejection fraction (13%) have been responsible for an inability, in my daughters case, to eat fat for most of her life, have excruciating abdominal pain on average twice weekly, that would sort of combine constipation and ultimately diarrhea, but now, in the last year, nausea and occasionally throwing up (at least feeling nausous) -- when it was diarrhea type stomach aches (i use the term stomach aches lightly, because they were more like 4 hour episodes, that she'd ultimately be so exhausted from she'd go to sleep),she was eating a typical kids diet... lots of pasta, bread, protein, chicken fingers, etc... as she got older, in her teen years she learned she couldnt' eat fat, cut out chicken fingers, chinese food, etc, but only after high school did she cut out gluten, and switch to fruit and vegetable, and some protein. That got rid of the diarrhea, but still pain, nausea after eating, very limited diet, and has lost 27 pounds now in 2 years since high school graduation because she learned the lighter she ate the less pain she had. This many years of all of this has led to a lot of depression, and having to take a medical leave of absence from college (and she was a straight A student)... she's been diagnosed previously this year with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and was given 3 rounds of Xifaxin, but it did nothing. Then the HIDA scan with cck, ordered by her current gastro, to take with her to Johns Hopkins, where we are going in 10 days. I'm asking all of this because we started at Johns Hopkins, where she was diagnosed with the SIBO, and I want to be able to discuss this more intelligently this time around. I think 10 years of her ife are enough to give to this disease with no answers, no cure. She has no faith in doctors anymore, but is willing to give us this yeea (she's 20 now) and then she says she's going to get on with her life... of course that would be difficult. So I want to be able to help her by advocating for her. I've said to doctors for years that she cannot eat fat and could it be her gall bladder, just to be ignored (I think they dont want a mom telling them what they should look for).

So, what do you think? Could her symptoms have been caused by the gall bladder? or a combination of both the SIBO and the gall bladder? In situations like this, with a 13% ejection fraction, would taking out her gall bladder help? Could it hurt the situatiuon?

Thanks.