ABOUT THE DISEASE

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac-like organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It temporarily stores bile that is produced in the liver and helps in digestion of fats. During a meal, the gallbladder contracts, and bile moves from the gallbladder through small duct, called the cystic duct and the common bile duct, into the small intestine.

Cholecystitis usually develops when a person has gallstones, which may block the cystic duct, causing bile to be trapped in the gallbladder. Chemicals in the trapped bile or a bacterial infection can then lead to inflammation of the gallbladder. It can be acute or chronic in nature.

SYMPTOMS

• • severe right abdominal pain that may spread to back or below right shoulder blade
• • abdominal cramping and bloating
• • fever
• • chills
• • nausea
• • vomiting
• • loose, light-colored stools
• • jaundice
• • itching

CAUSES

1) Gall stones
2) Tumor
3) Bile duct blockage
4) Infection of the CBD drainage system
5) Excess cholesterol in the gallbladder, as during pregnancy or after rapid weight loss.

DIAGNOSIS

- Clinical Evaluation
- Abdominal ultrasound or a computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC)

TREATMENT METHODS

Supportive care (hydration, analgesics, antibiotics).

Surgery to remove Gall bladder (Cholecystectomy).

You may also like to learn about:

Gallstones
Gall Bladder Polyps
Bile duct obstruction
Bile duct disease
Biliary atresia
Liver disease