Yaz Gallbladder Disease: How Bile Duct Infection Leads To Cholangitis
Yaz gallbladder disease is normally discussed in the context of the gall bladder becoming inflamed. When this occurs, the organ is usually removed through a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Yaz gallbladder disease is normally discussed in the context of the gall bladder becoming inflamed. When this occurs, the organ is usually removed through a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, there are occasions when this approach is insufficient for addressing some of the related side effects of Yaz gallbladder disease. One of these side effects is called cholangitis. It is a dangerous condition and requires immediate medical attention.
How Yaz Gallstones Can Trigger Cholangitis
Cholangitis is defined by inflammation of the common bile duct. This is the tube through which bile flows into your small intestine. Bile is a fluid that is produced and secreted by your liver. It flows into your gallbladder where it is stored and concentrated. When fats enter your small intestine, a hormone called cholecystokinin is released. This hormone causes your gall bladder to contract, which pushes the concentrated bile into the common bile duct. The bile fluid flows into your duodenum and aids in the digestion and absorption of fats.
The hormones contained in Yaz birth control pills (estrogen and drospirenone) are believed to increase the amount of cholesterol secreted with the bile fluid. These hormones are also thought to reduce the contraction activity of the gallbladder. These two events contribute to the formation of Yaz gallstones.
Stones can migrate into the common bile duct and form a blockage. Meanwhile, several types of bacteria can enter the bile duct from the duodenum and ascend the tube. Your body can normally prevent the spread of bacteria through the biliary tract. However, biliary obstructions are believed to reduce the efficacy of the immune system, thus lowering your body’s antibacterial defenses. The bacteria spreads and causes infection, which climbs through the biliary tree. The infection triggers cholangitis.
The Danger Of Biliary Tract Infection
The bile duct becomes progressively inflamed as the infection climbs up the biliary tract, and eventually reaches your gall bladder and liver. At this point, acute cholangitis has developed. It presents many of the same symptoms as Yaz gallbladder disease, including upper right abdominal pain, fever, and nausea and vomiting.
If bacteria from the duodenum spreads far enough, it can enter your bloodstream and can cause sepsis. Though this is a rare byproduct of cholangitis, it is extremely dangerous and must be treated immediately. Otherwise, the bacteria can infect the kidneys, lungs, and even the central nervous system.
How Bile Duct Infection Is Treated
Doctors will immediately administer antibiotics to slow the spread of infection through the biliary tree and prevent bacteria from reaching your bloodstream. Once your condition has stabilized, the goal becomes to clear the blockage. As mentioned above, Yaz gallstones within the common bile duct cannot be addressed through gallbladder removal surgery. If the stones do not pass into the duodenum on their own, doctors will perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy.
A thin, flexible instrument called an endoscope is inserted through the mouth and guided to the duodenum. The instrument is outfitted with a small light and camera. A catheter is passed through the scope to the common bile duct where a contrast dye is released to reveal the location of the stones. The doctor will try to remove the stones from the duct. Those that cannot be removed directly require endoscopic sphincterotomy.
Sphincterotomy is an incision made into the ampulla of Vater (where the bile duct empties into the duodenum). This incision widens the gap and allows for easier retrieval of bile duct stones. This two-pronged approach (i.e. ERCP with sphincterotomy) is successful for over 90 percent of cases involving cholangitis. Yaz gallbladder problems that are caused by gallstones can be serious. But there are other dangerous conditions, including cholangitis,that can result from the stones.
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Mike Anderson is the author of this article on Yaz gallbladder settlement.
Find more information about Yaz gallbladder injury here.
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