General Information About Cholecystitis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the inflammation, swelling, redness, and sometimes pus accumulation in the wall of the gallbladder, which stores the bile produced by the liver.
In 95% of cases, the cause is Gallstones. One of the stones inside the gallbladder blocks the opening of the bile duct (cystic duct). The bile cannot flow out, the gallbladder stretches like a balloon, and the stagnant bile inside becomes infected with bacteria and starts to decay.
Severe, stabbing pain in the upper right side of the abdomen (under the ribs) that radiates to the right shoulder blade (back), typically starting after a fatty/heavy meal, accompanied by high fever and vomiting.
Yes. The blockage and inflammation impair the gallbladder's blood circulation. The gallbladder can become gangrenous and eventually burst (perforate), spilling the infected bile into the abdominal cavity. This causes a fatal inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis).
It is very typical for the patient to catch their breath in pain when the physician presses under the right rib cage (Murphy's sign). Leukocytes in the blood increase. With a Whole Abdomen Ultrasound, the thickened wall of the gallbladder and the stones inside are visualized in seconds.
Antibiotics only suppress the inflammation but cannot destroy the stone blocking the duct, so the attacks will recur. The only definitive treatment is completely cutting out and removing the gallbladder along with the stones through Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery after the patient is hospitalized.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
