Yaz Gallbladder Disease: Treatment Through Gallbladder Removal Surgery
More women have been coming forward after suffering gallbladder removal side effects and have inquired about the legal option of filing a gallbladder Yaz lawsuit. Gallbladder disease is a catchall reference that includes gallstones, infection, and inflammation of the organ. Stones are present in nearly all cases, though they can be found in different areas along your biliary tract (the route bile flows from your liver to your small intestine).
When symptoms present, they can include severe abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and a loss of appetite. In severe cases, you might experience a fever accompanied by chills and uncontrollable shaking.
The most common form of treatment for Yaz gallbladder problems is to surgically remove the organ. The procedure is called cholecystectomy. Below, you’ll learn how the operation is performed as well as potential complications that can result. I’ll also explain an additional procedure called ERCP that is often necessary.
How Cholecystectomy Is Performed
Gallbladder removal surgery can be performed through an open abdominal operation or with a less invasive, laparoscopic approach. During open cholecystectomy, a surgeon makes a long incision (up to 8 inches) into your abdomen. After cutting through the abdominal muscles, the gallbladder’s connections to the surrounding structures are severed. Then, the organ is removed through the incision.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy uses several smaller incisions rather than a single long one. Before making them, your doctor will insert a needle through your navel and fill your abdominal cavity with carbon dioxide. Doing so expands the cavity and provides extra room in which the surgeon can work.
Three or four small incisions (usually a half-inch or less) are made into your abdomen. A flexible instrument called a laparoscope is inserted through one of them. The laparoscope is equipped with a tiny camera that sends real-time images back to a video monitor. The surgeon will insert additional surgical instruments and use them to sever your gallbladder’s connections and extract the organ.
Most cholecystectomies today are done through laparoscopy. The recovery period is shorter, there’s less scarring, and less postoperative pain. Unfortunately, laparoscopy is not always possible, as in cases where infection or scarring is present. Moreover, your surgeon may begin with a laparoscopic approach and be forced to convert to open surgery due to unexpected problems (e.g. your gallbladder’s wall is too thick).
Potential Complications Of Gallbladder Removal Surgery
Yaz gallbladder disease that requires removal of the organ places you at risk of common bile duct damage. This can occur with both open abdominal surgery and laparoscopy.
During the operation, a surgeon may inadvertently tear your common bile duct. This allows bile to leak into your abdominal cavity, causing infection. If the leak is not resolved, infection can eventually enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. At that point, it becomes potentially life-threatening.
Another possible complication is that the surgeon might miss Yaz gallstones that have migrated from your gallbladder into the common bile duct. If a bile duct tear occurs, the stones can spill into your abdominal cavity. This too, sets the stage for infection.
When ERCP Is Necessary
Stones that are present in your common bile duct cannot be resolved with gallbladder removal surgery. A procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is required to retrieve the stones.
During ERCP, an endoscope is inserted into your mouth and guided through your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. When it arrives at your common bile duct, the surgeon will thread a catheter through the endoscope and release a radiopaque dye. The dye shows obstructions on X-rays. Once the surgeon has identified the location of the stones, another instrument is guided through the endoscope to the bile duct in order to retrieve them.
Otherwise healthy women have suffered gallstones and gallbladder disease after taking Yaz birth control pills. In cases where symptoms present, the organ is nearly always surgically removed. If you have suffered gallbladder problems after using this oral contraceptive, contact an experienced birth control lawyer. You may have the right to file a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit.
Yaz And Gallstones: A Detailed Look At How Gallstones Form
Otherwise healthy women have reported experiencing problems related to Yaz and gallstones. In most cases, the stones are asymptomatic, especially if they remain within the gallbladder. However, it is not uncommon for symptoms to emerge years later, causing debilitating pain and dangerous complications. Please contact us for the latest updates on Yaz gallbladder class action lawsuit type claims which are referred to as multidistrict litigation.
Gallstones and gallbladder disease are among the many severe side effects of Yaz birth control. Doctors usually address both circumstances by surgically removing the gall bladder. Below, you’ll discover how the stones form, how they can trigger gallbladder disease, and some of the resulting problems that may occur.
Production And Flow Of Bile Fluid
Bile is necessary for the digestion of fats that arrive in your small intestine. It is manufactured by your liver, which secretes bile fluid into the common hepatic duct. While a small amount flows directly into your small intestine through the common bile duct, most of the fluid flows into your gallbladder. It remains there until it is needed for digestion.
Your gall bladder functions as a storage facility for the bile. It receives between two and five cups of bile fluid each day. There, the fluid is concentrated to several times its original strength, leaving only a few tablespoons available for digestion.
When fats enter your small intestine, a hormone called cholecystokinin is produced. This sends a signal to your gallbladder, causing it to contract. The contraction pushes the concentrated bile fluid into the common bile duct, allowing it to flow into your duodenum.
This process can be interrupted with the formation of Yaz gallstones.
Root Cause Of Yaz and Gallstones
When your liver produces bile fluid, it secretes a small amount of cholesterol. Because the cholesterol is highly insoluble, it must be contained within bile salts as it moves to your gallbladder; over time, it is dissolved by the bile.
If your liver produces excess cholesterol, the bile salts will be unable to dissolve it. Instead, the fluid begins to thicken within your gallbladder and eventually goes through a process called supersaturation. Solid cholesterol particles begin to form and crystallize. These crystals begin to clump together and form gallstones.
Yaz gallbladder problems are the result of two catalysts. The oral contraceptive is believed to be responsible for increasing the amount of cholesterol secreted from your liver. Moreover, the estrogen and drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) contained in the birth control pill is thought to reduce the contraction-related activity of your gallbladder. This raises the risk of supersaturation. As the cholesterol crystallizes and Yaz gallstones form, additional problems can emerge.
Stones that remain in your gall bladder can potentially block the opening that leads to the cystic duct. A blockage prevents bile from exiting the organ. The trapped bile eventually causes inflammation, triggering a gallbladder attack. When this happens, you will experience sharp pain in your upper abdomen.
Gallstones caused by Yaz can also migrate from your gall bladder into the common bile duct. If they form a blockage, the flow of bile will be slowed. That sets the stage for bacterial infection and inflammation within the duct. A secondary effect is swelling in your gallbladder, which causes biliary colic.
If the stones migrate further along the common bile duct, they can block the ampulla of Vater. This is a juncture at which the bile duct and pancreatic duct merge. A blockage in this area can prevent digestive enzymes secreted by your pancreas from passing into your small intestine. This can lead to pancreatitis, a potential side effect of Yaz gallbladder problems.
Many women who have never experienced problems with their gall bladders have developed gallstones after taking Yaz birth control pills. This often results in the surgical removal of the organ. If you or someone you know has suffered gallstones or gallbladder disease following use of this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz lawsuit gallbladder attorney to discuss your case and the latest news regarding a Yaz gallbladder settlement. You may be entitled to file a claim for compensation for your injuries.
Yaz And Gallstones: Causes And Symptoms
Together, Yaz birth control and gallstones have burdened otherwise healthy women with severe gallbladder problems. Some of these women had never developed stones or suffered gall bladder disease prior to using Yaz. Please contact us for more information regarding your legal options including filing a Yaz lawsuit gallbladder claim. We are currently representing women throughout the United States who have developed side effects while using this birth control product.
In nearly 80% of cases, gallstones are asymptomatic; those who have them may be unaware the stones exist. However, they can lay “dormant” for years before symptoms finally emerge. When they become symptomatic, the effects are painful and medical attention is usually required.
Below, we’ll explore the link between Yaz and gallstones. You’ll learn how the oral contraceptive contributes to the formation of stones and by extension, the development of gallbladder disease. I’ll describe common symptoms that present as well as the most common form of treatment recommended by doctors.
What Causes Yaz Gallbladder Problems?
Your liver secretes bile fluid into the common hepatic duct of your biliary tract. The bile contains a small amount of cholesterol. It flows through the cystic duct and into your gallbladder where it is stored and concentrated for later use. The cholesterol is absorbed into the cell lining of your gall bladder’s wall.
When fats enter your small intestine, a hormone called cholecystokinin is released. This hormone tells your gall bladder that bile is needed for digestion. The organ contracts and pushes bile into the cystic duct. The bile flows through the common bile duct and into your duodenum (the top portion of your small intestine).
Yaz birth control may contribute to the formation of stones within your gallbladder. It combines estrogen with a synthetic progestin called drospirenone. These hormones can increase the level of cholesterol within the bile fluid secreted by your liver. Moreover, they can reduce the frequency and strength of your gallbladder’s contractions.
The elevated level of cholesterol within the bile fluid cannot be sufficiently absorbed into your gallbladder’s wall. Meanwhile, the diminished activity of the organ prevents the bile from exiting into the cystic duct. The bile remains within the organ and slowly turns into a sludge-like substance. This is the beginning of cholelithiasis, the formation of gallstones.
Signs And Symptoms Of Yaz Gallstones
The most common sign of symptomatic gallstones is sharp pain within your upper abdomen. This is generally referred to as biliary colic. The pain is caused by stones that block the passage of bile from your gallbladder. Trapped inside, the bile triggers inflammation and causes the organ to swell.
In some cases, the blockage forms within your gall bladder. Gallstones gather near the organ’s exit, preventing bile from moving into the cystic duct. In other cases, the stones can migrate from your gallbladder into the cystic duct or common bile duct. Here too, they can form a blockage and prevent bile from leaving your gallbladder.
Other symptoms of gallstones caused by Yaz include fever, nausea, vomiting, and a bloated sensation. Because the area in which pain is sharpest is near the bottom portion of the esophagus, many people mistake the stones for heartburn.
Once gallstones display symptoms, doctors will normally recommend gallbladder removal surgery. The organ can be removed with a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, if infection is present, open abdominal surgery is necessary.
Should You File A Yaz Gallbladder Lawsuit?
Many women who have never experienced gallbladder problems have suffered Yaz gallbladder disease and gallstones after taking this birth control pill. Even if stones remain asymptomatic, they can unexpectedly display symptoms. At that point, removing your gallbladder becomes the default form of treatment.
If you have suffered stones, biliary colic, and other gallbladder problems after using the contraceptive, invest the time to explore your legal rights. Contact a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit attorney to discuss your case.
If you have used Yasmin, Ocella or Yaz birth control pills, you may be concerned about possible damage it can cause to your gallbladder. It’s important to understand what bile is and how it functions, as it is an important player in gallstones and gallbladder disease. Please contact us for the latest information on Yaz gallbladder settlement news and your options in filing a Yasmin/Ocella Lawsuit. Currently the litigation is ongoing and there have not been any Yaz settlements.
Bile forms naturally in the liver. It is a yellowish liquid containing water, cholesterol, electrolytes, bile acids and bilirubin. Adults produce 400-800 milliliters of bile each day.
Bile has two main functions. It breaks down fatty acids, aiding digestion, and it eliminates waste products, like bilirubin. It also helps transport the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
But before it can do its primary functions, it has to leave the liver and get to the small intestine, where food is digested. Bile leaves the liver through a tube called a bile duct, and goes into the gallbladder. Here it is prepared and stored until needed.
In the gallbladder, bile is diluted when cells absorb excess water, leaving a concentrated liquid. When a person eats, the gallbladder contracts, sending the concentrated bile through a bile duct to the small intestine.
In the small intestine, bile acids act as a detergent agent by breaking down dietary fat into minute droplets for better digestion.
Occasionally, the chemical makeup of bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin or not enough bile acids. When this happens, the liquid can harden, forming a rock like substance in the gallbladder called a gallstone. A stone may range from the size of a grain of sand to the size of a golf ball.
Gallstones are fairly common. By the time they are 75 years old, 60% of women have gallstones and 20% of men. Sometimes the stones are asymptomatic and can be ignored. However, they may cause intermittent pain, especially after a person has eaten a large or fatty meal. A person may experience sharper abdomen pain, chills, fever or nausea, lasting for several hours. These may be symptoms of gallstones.
If gallstones block or enter the bile ducts, they can cause inflammation and infection, leading to gallbladder disease. Left untreated, an infection could spread to other parts of the body and become fatal.
Doctors usually recommend removing an infected gallbladder or one with a history of developing gallstones. Although the gallbladder is not essential for life, it does provide an important function. Once it is removed, patients may need to make lifelong adjustments in diet to compensate for its absence.
If you or someone you know has had gallbladder problems as a result of using Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella birth control, please contact us.
We represent all women suffering from Yaz gallbladder problems on a contingency basis, which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case.
For a free no-obligation case review and the latest Yaz gallbladder settlement news, please call toll free or fill out our short online contact form and a birth control attorney will contact you to answer any of your questions including your options in filing a Yaz / Ocella lawsuit.
Yaz Birth Control and Gallbladder Diseases
If you have taken Yaz birth control pill, you should know that some people believe there is a correlation between using these newer contraceptives and Yaz / Ocella gallbladder disease. Although it can take years before symptoms of the disease begin to show, it is important for women to know the signs of different ailments that affect the gallbladder including undergoing Yaz gallbladder removal surgery.
The gallbladder is a muscular, pear shaped organ that is located near the liver. It connects to the liver and to the intestine via ducts. The liver produces bile, a chemical that digests fats. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder until needed, and is then sent to the small intestine to aid digestion.
Although it is often considered a nonessential organ, it does provide an important function in digestion. And, if it becomes diseased, it can present serious health conditions.
Biliary Colic
One of the milder symptoms a person with gallbladder disease may experience is intermittent pain in them middle or upper right area of the abdomen. This may occur several hours after eating a large or fatty meal, and may go away on its own. This symptom, known as biliary colic, may also produce nausea and vomiting.
Ocella Gallbladder Disease and Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)
Gallstones are hardened material, either cholesterol or bile, which form a rock-like substances in the gallbladder. While they may exist for years without being noticed, they can create gas, nausea, stomach discomfort and diarrhea.
Cholecystitis
When Yaz and gallstones block the cystic duct, it can cause an inflammation. Symptoms of cholecystitis include constant pain in the upper abdomen for more than six hours, a history of biliary colic, fever and chills, nausea, and increased pain when inhaling deeply.
Choledocholithiasis
Gallstones may also become lodged in another duct, the common bile duct. This can lead to a serious infection with symptoms including fever, chills, pain in the right side of the abdomen, jaundice, dark urine, a rapid heartbeat or a sudden drop in blood pressure.
If you are having any of the symptoms described for cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis, seek medical treatment immediately. Left untreated, an infection can spread, leading to perforation of the gallbladder, abscesses, and infections in other parts of the body.
Gallbladder cancer
While gallbladder cancer is rare, over 80% of people who have it also have gallstones. If the cancer is contained in the gallbladder, the gallbladder can be removed. Unfortunately, symptoms do not always appear until advanced stages. Those symptoms would include weight loss, anemia and a lump in the abdomen.
Although it may take years for any problems to develop, people who have taken these birth control pills should understand their risks for developing Yaz gallbladder disease. If you or a family member has suffered from gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder leading to Yaz gallbladder removal, please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.
Yaz And Gallstones: What Is Chronic Cholecystitis?
Yaz and Yasmin gallbladder disease has caused otherwise healthy women to undergo surgery to have their gallbladders removed. The oral contraceptive is thought to contribute to the formation of stones in two ways. First, it elevates the level of cholesterol within your body. Second, it reduces the contraction activity of your gallbladder. Both circumstances contribute to stones.
When gallstones form within your gallbladder, they can prevent bile from exiting into the cystic duct. If bile is trapped within, it can cause inflammation. This is a condition known as acute cholecystitis, one of the side effects of Yaz gallbladder disease. It is typically accompanied by severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Over time, if the condition is not treated, it will turn into chronic cholecystitis.
Chronic Cholecystitis Explained
Chronic cholecystitis is defined as a persistent, lasting inflammation of your gallbladder. It is nearly always caused by stones. If you are using Yaz birth control and gallstones form, it is important to seek treatment if the stones become symptomatic. You might experience mild attacks that subside after a few hours, but the underlying condition (i.e. gallstones that block the passage of bile) still exists.
Repeated gallbladder attacks can eventually cause the wall of the organ to thicken. Chronic episodes can also cause your gallbladder to shrink. When this occurs, the organ will become less capable of concentrating bile and propelling it into the cystic duct. Your gall bladder will eventually suffer calcification.
Symptoms And Side Effects
The symptoms that accompany chronic Yaz gallbladder disease are similar to those that manifest during intermittent attacks. However, they will likely recur more frequently as your gall bladder loses the ability to contract and release bile.
When the walls of your gallbladder become calcified after repeated attacks, the organ can begin to appear like porcelain on X-rays. Doctors refer to this as “porcelain gallbladder.” Years ago, the condition was thought to be associated with gall bladder cancer. Today, that connection remains in doubt.
Treating Persistent Yaz Gallstones
Chronic gallbladder inflammation requires hospitalization. Fluids, electrolytes, and antibiotics are administered through an IV while your doctor determines the risks involved with performing surgery. If there are signs that your intestine is failing to contract properly, a tube may be passed through your nose into your stomach. Any contents within your stomach are suctioned out.
If the risk of surgery is manageable, a doctor will perform an operation called cholecystectomy. This is a procedure during which your gallbladder is removed. Normally, it is done laparoscopically by making a few abdominal incisions and inserting surgical instruments through them. However, if infection is present or there is scarring from past surgical procedures, the surgeon will need to convert to open cholecystectomy. There is more postoperative pain, risk of complications, and a longer recovery period.
In some cases, a doctor may decide that surgery poses too great a risk due to other medical conditions, such as a heart problem. However, if chronic cholecystitis is accompanied by other serious Yaz gallbladder problems (i.e. abscesses, perforation, or fistulas), immediate surgery is necessary.
Women who have never shown signs of gallbladder disease or gallstones have experienced these side effects after taking Yaz birth control. If inflammation is allowed to persist, it can lead to chronic cholecystitis. Your gall bladder can suffer damage and need to be removed. If you have suffered gallbladder problems after using this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit attorney to explore your options. You may be able to file a claim seeking compensation for your injuries.
Yaz Gallbladder Disease: Complications Of Gallbladder Inflammation
Yaz gallbladder disease occurs when your gall bladder becomes inflamed (a condition known as cholecystitis). The inflammation is usually caused by gallstones that reside in the cystic duct or within the organ itself. In both cases, the stones create an obstruction that prevents bile fluid from escaping your gall bladder. Bile is forced to remain within the organ and can eventually cause infection and sharp pain.
While Yaz gallstones are rarely symptomatic, they require treatment when symptoms present. If left untreated, infection can spread and cause several dangerous complications. Some are potentially life-threatening. Below, you’ll learn how perforation, fistulas, bile duct infection, and pancreatitis can develop. If you or a family member has suffered side effects please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation on your legal options including being part of a Yaz gallbladder disease lawsuit.
Perforated Gall Bladder
Perforation of your gallbladder can result if inflammation is left untreated for a long period. When perforation occurs, it is usually due to a persistent gallstone within your gall bladder that causes erosion of the organ’s wall. This is extremely dangerous. If your gallbladder becomes perforated, the bile fluid and other contents held within can spill out into your abdominal cavity. This leads to abdominal infection (known as peritonitis).
Fistulas With Neighboring Organs
A fistula is an abnormal tunnel that is shared between two organs. With Yaz gall bladder disease, the inflamed organ can develop a perforation and adhere to a nearby structure (for example, the top portion of your small intestine). When this happens, a channel can develop between the two structures through which gallstones can pass.
If large stones pass from your gallbladder into your small intestine, they can cause a condition known as gallstone ileus. This is a blockage within your intestinal tract. More commonly, a fistula shared between your gallbladder and small intestine can allow the passage of concentrated bile fluid. This can lead to diarrhea.
Infection Within The Bile Duct
Infection can present in your common bile duct if stones are preventing bile from flowing out of the duct into your duodenum. The condition is known as cholangitis. If the infection is discovered early enough, your doctor may be able to control its spread by administering antibiotics. However, antibiotics are unsuccessful in nearly a quarter of such cases.
If infection spreads, it can eventually trigger dangerous secondary complications. For example, you might develop abscesses within your liver. Or, if bacteria reaches your bloodstream, you can also suffer sepsis as infection spreads quickly throughout your body. This, in turn, can lead to septic shock and even death.
Blockage Of The Pancreatic Duct
Gallstones that migrate downward through your common bile duct can block your pancreatic duct as it approaches the Sphincter of Oddi (near the outlet to the duodenum). Your pancreas produces enzymes that help digest food within your small intestine. They travel through the pancreatic duct and empty into your duodenum. A blockage prevents the enzymes from passing from your pancreas. When this occurs, your pancreas will suffer inflammation, a condition known as pancreatitis. While it is often mild, it can be life-threatening.
Gall bladder Yaz problems are usually addressed by surgically removing the organ. A procedure called cholecystectomy is performed during which your gall bladder’s connections to its surrounding structure are severed before the organ is removed. The operation is normally done laparoscopically; it is minimally invasive and poses less risk than open surgery. However, the complications described above may force the surgeon to convert to open surgery in order to remove your gallbladder.
Gallbladder disease is one of the serious side effects of Yaz oral contraceptives. If you have suffered gallbladder problems after using this birth control pill, you may be due compensation for your injuries. Contact a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit lawyer to discuss your case.
Yaz And Gallstones: ERCP For Removing Common Bile Duct Stones
One of the Yaz gallbladder symptoms involves the formation of gallstones. Yaz is suspected of raising the cholesterol level in the liver while simultaneously reducing the activity of the gallbladder. The excess cholesterol moves out of the liver through the secretion of bile. The bile flows into the gall bladder where it remains until it is released to aid in the digestion process. Women taking Yaz have experienced an inflamed gallbladder causing extreme pain.
Your gallbladder normally regulates the amount of cholesterol in the bile fluid by absorbing it into its wall. When there is an excess, it creates an imbalance and it cannot be absorbed properly. What’s more, Yaz birth control pills are thought to lessen the frequency of contractions in your gallbladder. That prevents the organ from emptying its bile content into the cystic duct. The cholesterol eventually begins to crystallize (a process called supersaturation) inside the gallbladder and form Yaz gallstones.
Stones can remain within the gall bladder and cause inflammation and infection. They can also migrate into the common bile duct. Below, I’ll describe the potential complications that can arise from bile duct stones. You’ll also learn how a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used to identify and remove them.
Yaz Gallbladder Symptoms
The two most significant dangers of Yaz gallstones within the common bile duct are infection and pancreatitis. Infection within the bile duct is called cholangitis. If it is diagnosed early enough, your doctor may be able to control it by administering antibiotics. However, antibiotics fail to clear up infection in one out of four cases. If the infection spreads, it can become potentially life-threatening.
With pancreatitis, stones can migrate to the lower portion of the common bile duct and block the pancreatic duct. Normally, digestive enzymes travel through the pancreatic duct en route to the duodenum. Trapped in the duct, these enzymes begin to attack the pancreas, causing inflammation. Like infection, pancreatitis can be fatal if it is not treated.
ERCP For Yaz Gallstones In The Bile Duct
Years ago, stones in the bile duct prompted surgeons to perform open cholecystectomy (i.e. gallbladder removal surgery). During the operation, the surgeon would explore the common bile duct for gallstones, removing any that were found. The procedure was invasive and required a long abdominal incision.
Today, doctors can perform ERCP to locate and remove bile duct stones. This strategy is far less invasive than open cholecystectomy. During the procedure, an endoscope is inserted through the throat into the common bile duct. The endoscope is equipped with a tiny camera that transmits images that help the doctor explore the area. A small tube is threaded through the scope into the duct, and a special dye is released. The dye allows X-rays to be taken of the duct, which helps the doctor to identify gallstones.
Once the stones are located, surgical instruments can be threaded through the endoscope into the bile duct to remove them.
Even through ERCP can help you avoid gallbladder removal surgery (when stones are exclusive to the bile duct), there are risks associated with the procedure. Potential complications include pancreatitis, infection, perforation of the bile duct or duodenum, and even damage to the bowel. While antibiotics may be able to control the spread of infection, pancreatitis and damage to the organs must be addressed with surgery.
The connection between Yaz and gallstones is alarming. Healthy women who have never experienced stones have developed them after taking this birth control pill. If you have suffered gallbladder disease or gallstones after using Yaz oral contraceptives, you may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yaz attorney to discuss your case including filing a Yaz gallbladder disease lawsuit.
Yaz Gallstones: The Dangers Of Common Bile Duct Stones
In order to understand how Yaz, gallstones and gallbladder inflammation may be related, it is important to clarify how your liver and gallbladder work. Your liver produces bile and secretes it into the common hepatic duct. The bile flows through the cystic duct into your gallbladder where it remains until food enters your duodenum (the top portion of your small intestine). Currently claims are being filed individually and there is no national Yaz class action gallbladder litigation.
When food enters the duodenum, a hormone called cholecystokinin is released. This sends a message to your gallbladder that bile is needed. The organ contracts and propels bile into the common bile duct. The bile flows into your duodenum and aids in the digestion of food.
Yaz birth control pills are believed to increase the cholesterol level in the bile that is secreted from your liver. The cholesterol content is normally small and can be managed by bile acids; the acids prevent the cholesterol from crystallizing into gallstones. Yaz increases the content and creates an imbalance. As a result, the bile acids become less capable of preventing the crystallization of the cholesterol.
Yaz gallstones are also attributed, in part, to less frequent gall bladder activity. If the organ fails to contract as often as it should, the cholesterol-heavy bile fluid sits within and thickens. This makes the formation of gallstones even more likely. It can also lead to inflammation, infection, and other side effects of Yaz gallbladder disease.
Hazards Of Common Bile Duct Stones
Gallstones caused by Yaz oral contraceptives typically form and remain within the gallbladder. However, they can occasionally migrate into the common bile duct. These are called secondary common bile duct stones. In rare cases, gallstones can form within the duct itself. These are called primary common bile duct stones. It is estimated that one in ten people who have symptomatic gallstones suffer from stones within the common bile duct.
Bile duct stones are dangerous. They can cause biliary colic, infection, and inflammation. If the stones migrate lower within the duct to the Sphincter of Oddi (located where the duct empties into your duodenum), they can block your pancreatic duct, triggering pancreatitis.
If gallstones form a blockage within your common bile duct, you might experience sharp abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. You might also notice that your skin takes on a yellowish hue. This is known as jaundice and is due to your liver being unable to expel bilirubin through the bile duct. All of these symptoms are warning signs that you need immediate medical attention.
Is Gallbladder Removal Surgery Necessary?
The most common form of treatment for Yaz gallstones is to surgically remove the gallbladder. This procedure – known as cholecystectomy – is normally performed laparoscopically. The surgeon will make a few small incisions into your abdomen and insert a thin tube equipped with a camera along with surgical instruments. Your gallbladder is removed without the surgeon needing to cut through your abdominal muscles.
Your surgeon may be unable to remove common bile duct stones with laparoscopy or a procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). If that is the case, he will be forced to convert to invasive open surgery during the operation. Whether your gallbladder is removed laparoscopically or through open surgery, there is a risk your bile duct may be damaged. Any injury must be resolved through further surgery in order to prevent bile leakage.
Common bile duct stones are a potential side effect of Yaz birth control pills. They usually require that your gallbladder be removed. If you have suffered gallstones after taking this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz gallbladder attorney to discuss your options. You may be able to file a legal claim against the manufacturer including filing a Yaz lawsuit.
Yaz gallbladder disease is usually discussed in the context of cholesterol-based gallstones and inflammation of the gall bladder. The condition can also lead to acute pancreatitis. While Yaz pancreatitis side effects can normally be treated with fluids and medications (delivered through an IV), a small percentage of cases may become serious – even potentially life-threatening. Currently claims are being filed individually and there is no national Yaz gallbladder class action.
This article will first describe the function of your pancreas and its role in your body’s digestive process. We’ll then take a closer look at how Yaz gallbladder disease can lead to inflammation of the pancreas and other side effects of acute pancreatitis.
How Your Pancreas Works
Your pancreas has two important jobs to perform. First, it produces enzymes that are vital to the digestion of proteins and fats within your small intestine. The organ secretes these enzymes through the pancreatic duct, which leads to the duodenum. The pancreas’s second responsibility is to release insulin into your bloodstream.
If something blocks the passage of the digestive enzymes as they move toward the duodenum, the enzymes can activate while still contained within the pancreatic duct. If this happens, they will attack the organ. This leads to inflammation which manifests as abdominal pain (mild to severe), nausea and vomiting, and fever.
It is estimated that over 200,000 cases of acute pancreatitis are diagnosed each year. Up to 40% are due to blockages caused by gallstones.
Yaz Gallstones And Acute Pancreatitis
Gallstones can form due to several factors. For example, there may be higher than normal levels of cholesterol contained within the bile secreted by the liver. The cells within the wall of the gall bladder may be unable to fully absorb the excess cholesterol. As a result, the cholesterol crystallizes and forms stones. A lack of activity (i.e. contractions) within the gallbladder can also lead to gallstones; the bile is not pushed out of the organ quickly enough and is allowed to stagnate.
Yaz birth control pills are thought to contribute to stones in two ways: increased levels of cholesterol and less frequent contractions of the gallbladder.
If the stones migrate from the gallbladder into the common bile duct, they can travel to the lower portion of the duct. This is where the common bile duct merges with the pancreatic duct before both empty into the duodenum through the Sphincter of Oddi. Yaz gallstones that become lodged within this area can block the digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas. The result is acute pancreatitis, also commonly known as gallstone pancreatitis.
Treatment For Yaz Gallstone Pancreatitis
If acute pancreatitis is not associated with gallstones, it can usually be treated by the approach mentioned above: intravenous infusion of fluids and medications. However, Yaz gallbladder disease complicates matters. If inflammation or stones are present, your doctor will likely recommend gallbladder removal surgery.
Your gallbladder can normally be removed with a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, gallstones that trigger acute pancreatitis are found in the bile duct. If the surgeon is unable to remove them through laparoscopy, he must convert to open surgery. Not only are the risks greater with open surgery (including injury to the bile duct), but there is more postoperative pain and the recovery time is longer.
Gallbladder disease is one of the serious side effects of using Yaz birth control pills. If you have suffered inflammation within your gallbladder, gallstones, or acute pancreatitis after taking this combined-hormone oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz gallbladder lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer.
