Symptoms and Treatment

Posted by Refluxmd on February 21st, 2018

What is Bile Reflux?

Bile reflux is a medical condition in which, a digestive liquid called bile backs up into the stomach and esophagus. Primarily, Bile is a fluid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which helps in digestion of fats. Chiefly, Bile is released after every meal, which then mixes with food in the duodenum and enters small intestine through pyloric valve. This valve opens slightly to let a small amount of food to enter at a time. However, in some instances, this valve does not shut correctly allowing bile to enter stomach causing bile reflux. Also, in some cases, bile enters the esophagus through the muscular valve causing abdominal pain and heartburn. The various Bile reflux symptoms and its treatment are mentioned below in detail for better understanding.

Bile reflux Symptoms

Usually, bile reflux is confused with acid reflux as the symptoms of both these diseases are similar. Also, both these medical condition may occur at the same time. So to get a clear an understanding of this disease, some of the bile reflux symptoms are listed below:

1. Severe upper abdominal pain
2. Frequent heartburn in which the patient experience a burning pain in the chest, which sometimes spreads to the throat and causes a dry mouth.
3. Nausea or a sensation of an urge to vomit.
4. Vomiting a greenish-yellow fluid, bile
5. An occasional cough and hoarseness
6. Unintended weight loss

Bile Reflux Treatment

Bile reflux is a complicated disease. It cannot be cured entirely with the change in lifestyle and medication. Bile reflux treatment is a complicated procedure which involves both drugs and surgical treatments. The various treatments methods for bile reflux are discussed below:

Medication

1. Ursodeoxycholic Acid: This medicine helps promote bile flow, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms.
2. Bile Acid Sequestrants: This drug disrupts bile circulation relieving individual's inflammatory pain. However, this drug is usually accompanied with side-effects, such as bloating.

These medicines can only give temporary relief to the patient. For a permanent cure, surgery is the last resort.

Surgical Treatment

When the medications fail to reduce the severity of symptoms and control the disease, doctors suggest a surgical method for bile reflux treatment. The standard surgical approaches adopted for treating bile reflux are described below:

1. Diversion Surgery (Roux-en-Y): This surgical procedure is recommended for people who previously had gastric surgery with pylorus removal. Under this treatment, surgeons make new connection for bile drainage farther down in intestine to keep the bile away from the stomach.

2. Anti-Reflux Surgery (Fundoplication): Fundus is the part of the stomach which is closest to the esophagus. Under this surgery, the fundus is enfolded and then seamed around the lower esophageal sphincter to strengthen the valve and reduce reflux.

The bile reflux symptoms and treatment mechanisms illustrate that bile reflux is a complex medical condition. If it is not identified and cured timely, it can prove fatal for the health. Thus, to prevent such severe health problems, people must maintain a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet to ensure that digestion occurs effortlessly without causing reflux and other symptoms.

Author Bio:

RefluxMD provides an overview of all reflux treatment. If you are looking for Acid Reflux Surgery get in touch with us so that we can guide you based on the Apple Cider Vinegar For Heartburn.

Original source: https://sites.google.com/site/refluxmdguide/symptoms-and-treatment