gallbladder removal and ast/alt

[orleans]

Hey guys, I've heard that removal of the gall bladder increases the work load of the liver. Anyone know if that would affect your ast/alt numbers? thanks, jerry

[GrandmaA]

I had so many gallstones the surgeon said they were coming out of the top of the gall bladder. Glad to have it out. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to digest fats at first, but the body adjusts. I don't miss it at all.

[mikesimon]

I don't think removal of the gallbladder impairs liver function at all. They take it with the liver in transplantation. One day after my transplant I told my surgeon that I had forgotten to tell him that I had gallstones and I asked if he fixed them. He said "you don't have a gallbladder anymore". I then asked about my spleen and he told me I still had that and that when he perfused my liver it shrunk right down like a balloon losing air. I would like to see a video of that because my spleen was huge. Mike

[orleans]

thanks, I think you are correct, as usual

[mremeet]

I've never heard that the removal of the gallbladder can cause elevated enzymes, but I'm not a doctor. I know that if your gallbladder is congested with sludge or gallstones it can cause a backup of bile within the biliary system. This can cause the liver to become congested as well, which can lead to hepatitis/inflammation possibly resulting in elevated enzymes if things get bad enough (and even death in severe cases). To my knowledge the gallbladder is usually specifically removed to avoid such things, and would not be responsible for actually causing AST/ALT to elevate.