Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder caused by gallstones, infection, or injury. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent complications. Surgery is the best treatment option, with most patients experiencing complete healing in less than a month. Older and obese people are at higher risk. Symptoms can be confirmed through diagnostic tests, and surgery may involve removing the gallbladder. Patients are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle and schedule regular checkups.
Acute cholecystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the gallbladder that results from gallstones, trauma, or a serious infection. A person who has acute cholecystitis is likely to experience severe abdominal pain after eating and frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting. Cholecystitis is considered an emergency condition and medical attention should be sought at the first signs of illness and abdominal pain to prevent potentially life-threatening complications. The prognosis for patients who receive immediate surgical treatment is good, and most people experience complete healing in less than a month.
The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile from the liver and releases it into the small intestine to aid in digestion. Most cases of acute cholecystitis occur when gallstones block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder, causing excessive buildup that leads to inflammation and swelling. Older and obese people are at higher risk of developing gallstones and subsequent cholecystitis. In cases where gallstones are not involved, acute inflammation is usually caused by a biliary infection or direct injury to the abdomen. Rarely, a cancerous tumor can put pressure on the organ and lead to cholecystitis.
The onset of acute cholecystitis is sudden and often severe. A person usually experiences sharp, radiating pains in the right side of the abdomen that get worse after eating meals. As the condition persists for several hours or days, nausea, vomiting, fever, and fatigue are common. The abdomen may also start to swell and feel tender to the touch. Without treatment, the gallbladder can rupture and release bile into the bloodstream, leading to serious infections and potentially inoperable organ damage.
An individual who believes they may be experiencing symptoms of acute cholecystitis should go to the emergency room right away. A doctor may collect a blood sample to check for bile and conduct a computed tomography scan to closely inspect the gallbladder. After the doctor has ruled out other possible causes of the symptoms, the patient is given pain medications and intravenous fluids to keep his vital signs stable. Additional diagnostic tests can confirm cholecystitis and allow specialists to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Doctors occasionally decide to treat the condition by removing gallstones and prescribing antibiotics. However, cholecystitis is very likely to return and become a chronic problem. Therefore, surgery is usually the best option to relieve symptoms and prevent complications of acute cholecystitis.
If a patient’s gallbladder is still intact, a surgeon may perform a procedure called a cholecystectomy to remove the organ and connect the bile ducts directly to the liver. A ruptured gallbladder requires emergency invasive surgery to prevent organ damage. A patient undergoing surgery for cholecystitis is typically kept in the hospital for several days so that doctors can monitor recovery. When the patient is discharged, they are asked to maintain a healthy diet and exercise and to schedule regular checkups with a gastroenterologist to help prevent future problems.
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