N
Gossip Blast Daily

Does a high functioning gallbladder need to be removed?

Author

William Harris

Updated on April 06, 2026

Does a high functioning gallbladder need to be removed?

The hyperkinetic gallbladder is a rare phenomenon, which can cause debilitating right upper quadrant pain. All three patients had an excellent response to cholecystectomy. Therefore, it is concluded that the patients with biliary colic and gallbladder EF of 80% or higher should be strongly considered for surgery.

How common is biliary Hyperkinesia?

Previous literature has described biliary hyperkinesia as a gallbladder EF >65–80%. In the present series the majority of patients had EFs >90% (23-26). Biliary hyperkinesia is likely an under diagnosed etiology of gallbladder pathology.

What are the symptoms of a high functioning gallbladder?

Symptoms can include upper abdominal pain after eating, nausea, bloating, and indigestion. Eating a fatty meal may trigger symptoms. There are usually no gallstones in the gallbladder with biliary dyskinesia.

What is hyperkinetic biliary dyskinesia?

The objective of our study was to evaluate hyperkinetic biliary dyskinesia (defined as a gallbladder ejection fraction of greater than or equal to 80%) as a predictor of symptom resolution following cholecystectomy.

What does it mean to have a high gallbladder ejection fraction?

When the gallbladder empties poorly, the diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia, defined as a gallbladder ejection fraction less than 35%, is made, and cholecystectomy can be considered. There is a subset of symptomatic patients, however, who have an abnormally high ejection fraction, defined as greater than 65%.

What is gallbladder ejection fraction?

GBEF measures how much bile your gallbladder releases at one time. Bile helps your body digest fat. When you eat fat, your gallbladder releases bile into your bile duct. A GBEF is usually measured during a test called a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.

What is considered a high ejection fraction gallbladder?

Biliary dyskinesia, or hypokinesia of the gallbladder, is accepted as an ejection fraction less than 35%, while an accepted normal functioning gallbladder ejection fraction is greater than 35%.

Is biliary dyskinesia rare?

Conclusion: Biliary dyskinesia is a rare disorder. With clinical suspicion in the absence of gallstones a functional radionuclide study to investigate gallbladder ejection fraction is mandatory.

What causes high ejection fraction gallbladder?

If increased cholecystokinin sensitivity or release is the etiology of the increased gallbladder ejection fraction in these patients, then the increased emptying could be accompanied by increased intraluminal pressure.

Can biliary dyskinesia cause pancreatitis?

Often a symptom rather than a disease itself, biliary dyskinesia might signal the existence of other digestive disorders such as acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, chronic inflammation, or gallstones.

What is the treatment for biliary dyskinesia?

The only treatment for biliary dyskinesia is to remove your gallbladder. This organ isn’t necessary for living a healthy life. This common procedure helps 90% of people who have the condition. Sometimes, symptoms return even after your gallbladder is removed.

Does biliary dyskinesia go away?

How is biliary dyskinesia treated? Your symptoms may go away without treatment. You may need any of the following if your symptoms are severe or continue: Prescription pain medicine may be given.