Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis (say "koh-lih-sis-TY-tus") is inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores bile. Bile helps the body digest food. Normally, the bile flows from the gallbladder to the small intestine.

A gallstone stuck in the cystic duct is most often the cause of sudden (acute) cholecystitis. The cystic duct is the tube that carries the bile out of the gallbladder. The gallstone blocks the bile from leaving the gallbladder. This results in an irritated and swollen gallbladder.

The disease can also be caused by infection or trauma, such as an injury from a car accident.

Cholecystitis has to be treated right away and likely in the hospital. Surgery is the usual treatment.

The most common symptom of cholecystitis is pain in your upper right abdomen that can sometimes move around to your back or right shoulder blade. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• Tenderness in the right abdomen.
• Fever.
• Pain that gets worse during a deep breath.
• Pain for more than 6 hours, particularly after meals.

Older people may not have fever or pain. Their only symptom may be a tender area in the abdomen.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. Your doctor will carefully feel your right upper abdomen to look for tenderness. You may have blood drawn and an ultrasound, a test that uses sound waves to create a picture of your gallbladder. Ultrasound may show gallstones, thickening of the gallbladder wall, extra fluid, and other signs of cholecystitis. This test also allows doctors to check the size and shape of your gallbladder.

You may also have other tests, such as a gallbladder scan. This is a nuclear scanning test that checks how well your gallbladder is working. It can also help find blockage in the tubes (bile ducts) that lead from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine (duodenum).

Treatment for cholecystitis will depend on your symptoms and your general health.

The main way to treat this disease is surgery to remove the gallbladder. This surgery can often be done through small cuts (incisions) in the belly. This is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In some cases, you may need a more extensive surgery.

You may need surgery as soon as possible. The doctor may try to reduce swelling and irritation in the gallbladder before removing it. You may be given fluids and antibiotics through an I.V. You may also be given pain medicine.

If you are not able to have surgery or cannot have it right away, the doctor may put a tube in the gallbladder to drain the bile.

This condition is treated in the hospital. While you're recovering, follow any instructions your doctor gives you. And go to any follow-up appointments.