Gallbladder Disease and Biliary Surgery in Veterinary Medicine

Gallbladder disease in companion animals encompasses a spectrum of conditions including cholecystitis, biliary sludge, cholelithiasis and the increasingly recognised gallbladder mucocele. These disorders often present with non-specific signs such as vomiting, lethargy, anorexia and jaundice and may progress to bile duct obstruction or gallbladder rupture if not promptly diagnosed. Ultrasonography remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, revealing characteristic findings from fine granular sludge to thickened mucosal folds and distended lumen filled with inspissated bile or mucin. Cholecystectomy constitutes the gold-standard treatment for obstructive and life-threatening disease, with perioperative management focused on stabilising electrolyte and coagulation profiles and reducing the risk of postoperative complications. Recent efforts have refined surgical techniques, including intraoperative assessment of common bile duct patency and selective flushing to clear residual debris. Concurrently, investigations into the pathogenesis of mucoceles have highlighted roles for altered mucin secretion, endocrinopathies and genetic predisposition. Understanding the interplay between systemic metabolic disorders and local epithelial dysfunction has guided more nuanced preoperative evaluation and postoperative care. On a global scale, advances in minimally invasive surgery, perioperative imaging and targeted antimicrobial therapy have improved short- and long-term outcomes, underscoring the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in veterinary hepatobiliary medicine.

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Gallbladder Disease and Biliary Surgery in Veterinary Medicine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gallbladder disease and biliary surgery in veterinary medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder to relieve obstruction or prevent rupture, most often performed for gallbladder mucocele or cholelithiasis.

Gallbladder mucocele: Accumulation of abnormally thick, inspissated mucus in the gallbladder, leading to luminal obstruction and risk of rupture.

Hemocholecyst: Bleeding within the gallbladder lumen, often associated with mucosal erosion or ulceration.

Bile duct flushing: Intraoperative irrigation of the common bile duct to remove debris or sludge, intended to improve postoperative bile flow.

Peritoneal effusion: Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which may be reactive or pathological and can confound ultrasonographic interpretation of the gallbladder wall.

References

1. Excess Secretion of Gel-Forming Mucins and Associated Innate Defense Proteins with Defective Mucin Un-Packaging Underpin Gallbladder Mucocele Formation in Dogs. PLOS ONE (2015).
2. Investigation of adrenal and thyroid gland dysfunction in dogs with ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele formation. PLOS ONE (2019).
3. Gallbladder mucocoele: A review. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (2015).
4. The effect of flushing of the common bile duct on hepatobiliary markers and short‐term outcomes in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for the management of gall bladder mucocele: A randomized controlled prospective study. Veterinary Surgery (2023).
5. Canine Gallbladder Erosion/Ulcer and Hemocholecyst: Clinicopathological Characteristics of 14 Cases. Animals (2023).
6. Sedation with dexmedetomidine is associated with transient gallbladder wall thickening and peritoneal effusion in some dogs undergoing abdominal ultrasonography. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2021).