Biliary Diseases

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What Is Biliary Disease?

Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology diagnoses and treats biliary diseases in Colorado. Biliary diseases affect the bile ducts and gallbladder. Bile drains from the liver through several bile ducts into the small intestine, and then back to the bile ducts and liver. If a bile duct becomes diseased or blocked, medical problems can occur. Bile is essential for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. When there is a biliary disease or disorder, the bile cannot enter the gastrointestinal tract, and the vitamins are excreted. RMG is proud to be home to some of the top gastroenterologists in the Denver, CO, area. Our specialists have provided exceptional care and treatment for over 20 years for digestive issues.

Types of Biliary Diseases

Multiple types of biliary diseases can affect the production of bile. The most common types of biliary diseases include:

  • Gallbladder Stones
  • Cholecystitis
  • Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
  • Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)
  • Biliary Duct Cancer
  • Cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary Disease Symptoms

There is no exact cause for biliary diseases, but there are risks if a patient is at increased age, obese, or has other gastrointestinal conditions. Primary biliary cirrhosis tends to occur between the ages of 30 and 60 and is more common in women. The symptoms of bile duct disorders may vary between patients, but the most common symptoms of biliary diseases include:

  • Upper right side abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Jaundice
  • Light brown urine
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Itching
  • Gray fecal matter

Biliary Disease Diagnosis

Our specialists can diagnose biliary diseases in multiple ways. The most common tests to diagnose bile duct disorders include:

Treatment for Biliary Disease

If we diagnose biliary disease, your treatment is customized to the biliary system issue. The most common biliary disease treatments include:

  • Medications– We treat patients with medication to help boost bile flow from the liver.
  • Endoscopic Retrograde Choliangiopancreatography (ERCP) –An ERCP helps identify and remove gallstones from the bile duct.
  • Cholecystectomy –Removal of the gallbladder is sometimes the best approach for severe gallbladder issues.
  • Stent Placement Stent placements involve placing a plastic or metal tube into the bile duct to treat the narrowing of the ducts.

Why Choose Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology?

Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology (RMG) is committed to diagnosing and treating digestive tract diseases with the highest quality techniques. Our gastroenterology specialists regularly perform nearly 30,000 procedures yearly in our outpatient Endoscopy Centers. We perform all types of treatments, from simple colonoscopy screenings to specialized liver biopsies. We have multiple offices, endoscopy procedure centers, and satellite office facilities for your convenience. As a physician-owned practice, we accept most insurance plans. We are happy to welcome you into our facility for top-notch care.

Contact RMG Today!

The Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology team has served Colorado with premier digestive treatments since 1997. We’ve grown into a practice of dozens of experienced gastroenterologists and multiple locations to meet your needs best. We’re here to diagnose and treat your digestive issues with compassion and care. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

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