Functional gallbladder disorder is characterised by recurrent biliary-type pain arising from the gallbladder without gallstones or structural disease. Establishing the diagnosis requires objective assessment of gallbladder function — specifically, the gallbladder emptying fraction.
Confirmed functional gallbladder disorder with documented abnormal gallbladder emptying (<40%) and no other identifiable condition accounting for the reduced emptying fraction.
A surgical procedure targeting the gallbladder is the primary evidence-based intervention for appropriately selected patients with confirmed gallbladder dysfunction — the complete protocol details patient selection and the full management pathway.
Sustained absence of the recurrent biliary pain for longer than 12 months following the intervention.
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2005.11.063