The gallbladder, an organ located under the liver, serves an important function within the digestive system. The liver produces bile, a substance that consists of fats, cholesterol, water, bile salts and bilirubin, needed by the digestive system to breakdown fats. The gallbladder temporarily holds the bile and secretes it to the small intestine. Inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused when bile substances harden into stones known as gallstones, interrupts digestive functions and can lead to serious complications producing a variety of symptoms.
Jaundice
Primary sclerosing cholangitis, PSC, describes a condition characterized by inflammation of the bile ducts both inside and outside the liver. Although the exact cause remains unknown, diseases of the gallbladder, including the presence of gallstones, can lead to this complication.
The inflammation caused by PSC lead to the build of scar tissue in the bile ducts causing the ducts to narrow and interfering with the flow of bile to and from the gallbladder. PSC causes fatigue, itching and jaundice, a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, as described by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Infection
Inflammation of the gallbladder, a condition known as cholecystitis, begins without an infection but can lead to an infection, according to the Merck Manual. Gallstones can enter the cystic duct and inhibit the flow of bile. As the bile builds up within the gallbladder it can become infected, a condition known as empyema. In addition to the severe abdominal pain felt in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen that occurs with the inflammation, infection of the gallbladder causes a fever usually accompanied by chills.
Sepsis
If left untreated, infection within the gallbladder can lead to the serious complication of sepsis. Sepsis describes a potentially life-threatening condition in which infection spreads through the body triggering a wide-spread immune system reaction. The initial stage of sepsis causes a fever that rises above 101.3 degrees F, a heart rate higher than 90 beats per minute and a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute, according to MayoClinic.com. As it progresses into severe sepsis urine output decreases, mental ability declines, difficulty breathing and abnormal heart function. Septic shock, the final stages, cause dangerously low blood pressure and can cause organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys to fail.
Perforation
Many gallbladder complications can lead to a perforation, or tear, in the gallbladder. Severe gallbladder inflammation can cause the organ to stretch beyond its normal size, increasing the risk for perforation. Infection within the gallbladder irritates the gallbladder wall which can also increase the risk for perforation. In this case, the perforation allows the infection to spread, resulting in sepsis. Chronic inflammation of the gallbladder causes the tissue in the gallbladder to die, a condition known as gangrene. Dead tissue weakens the wall of the gallbladder leaving it vulnerable to perforation.
