Chronic cholecystitis (patient information)
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What is Cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. There are two distinct types of cholecystitis, acute and chronic. Acute cholecystitis is a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes severe abdominal pain. Chronic cholecystitis is long-standing swelling and irritation of the gallbladder.
What are the symptoms of Cholecystitis?
Acute Cholecystitis
The main symptom is abdominal pain that is located on the upper right side or upper middle of the abdomen. The pain may:
- Be sharp, cramping, or dull
- Come and go
- Spread to the back or below the right shoulder blade
- Be worse after eating fatty or greasy foods
- Occur within minutes of a meal
Other symptoms that may occur include:
- Abdominal fullness
- Clay-colored stools
- Excess gas
- Fever
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Chronic Cholecystitis
Attacks of upper abdominal pain, often with nausea or vomiting.
What are the causes of Cholecystitis?
Acute Cholecystitis
In 90% of cases, acute cholecystitis is caused by gallstones in the gallbladder. Severe illness, alcohol abuse, and, rarely, tumors of the gallbladder may also cause cholecystitis.
Acute cholecystitis causes bile to become trapped in the gallbladder. The buildup of bile causes irritation and pressure in the gallbladder. This can lead to bacterial infection and perforation of the organ.
Chronic Cholecystitis
Chronic cholecystitis is usually caused by repeated attacks of acute cholecystitis. This leads to thickening of the gallbladder walls. The gallbladder begins to shrink and eventually loses the ability to perform its function, which is concentrating, storing, and releasing bile.
Who is at risk for Cholecystitis?
Risk Factors for Cholecystitis include:
- Gender: The disease occurs more often in women than in men
- Age: The incidence increases after age 40
- The presence or development of gallstones
- Race: Native Americans have a higher rate of gallstones
How to know you have Cholecystitis (Diagnosis)?
Acute Cholecystitis
A physical exam will show that your abdomen is tender to the touch.
Your doctor may order the following blood tests:
- Amylase and lipase
- Bilirubin
- Complete blood count (CBC): may show a higher than normal white blood cell count
- Liver function tests
Imaging tests that can show gallstones or inflammation include:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal x-ray
- Oral cholecystogram
- Gallbladder radionuclide scan
Chronic Cholecystitis
Tests that reveal gallstones or inflammation in the gallbladder:
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Gallbladder scan (HIDA scan)
- Oral cholecystogram
When to seek urgent medical care
Acute Cholecystitis
Call your health care provider if severe abdominal pain persists.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of cholecystitis recur after an acute episode.
Chronic Cholecystitis
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop any symptoms of cholecystitis.
Treatment options
Acute Cholecystitis
Seek immediate medical attention for severe abdominal pain.
In the emergency room, patients with acute cholecystitis are given fluids through a vein and antibiotics to fight infection.
Although cholecystitis may clear up on its own, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is usually needed when inflammation continues or recurs. Surgery is usually done as soon as possible, however some patients will not need surgery right away.
Nonsurgical treatment includes pain medicines, antibiotics to fight infection, and a low-fat diet (when food can be tolerated).
Emergency surgery may be necessary if gangrene (tissue death), perforation, pancreatitis, or inflammation of the common bile duct occurs.
Occasionally, in very ill patients, a tube may be placed through the skin to drain the gallbladder until the patient gets better and can have surgery.
Chronic Cholecystitis
Surgery is the usual treatment. Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) can be performed as an open or laparoscopic procedure. The open procedure requires a large cut in the upper-right part of the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery uses instruments and a small camera inserted through a cluster of a few small cuts.
In patients who are poor candidates for surgery because of other diseases or conditions, the gallstones may be dissolved with medication taken by mouth.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for Cholecystitis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Cholecystitis