Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused by gallstones blocking ducts or gut bacteria entering. Treatment includes antibiotics, medication to break up gallstones, or surgery to remove the gallbladder. After surgery, patients need to make dietary changes and may need medication to manage without the gallbladder.
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, an organ responsible for the concentration of bile used in digestion. Individuals with cholecystitis experience pain in the right upper abdomen and may also develop symptoms such as nausea. Treatment for this condition varies depending on the cause, but more classically the gallbladder is removed from the patient.
The most common type of cholecystitis is caused by gallstones, also known as gallstones. These small pieces of material can block the ducts that drain the gallbladder, allowing bile to build up and causing inflammation of the gallbladder walls. Gut bacteria can also enter the gallbladder, causing infection, and if the condition persists, the inflammation can spread to surrounding abdominal organs.
In acute cholecystitis, cholelitis is not present and the inflammation is caused by something else. Decreased blood supply to the gallbladder, as sometimes happens in diabetics, can cause inflammation, as well as a buildup of gallbladder sludge. Traumatized or seriously ill patients can also develop inflamed gallbladders.
The condition is classified as either acute, meaning it has occurred only once, or chronic, meaning the inflammation has been sustained and persistent. In both cases, gallbladder inflammation is diagnosed after a physical exam reveals abdominal tenderness and medical imaging shows that the organ is inflamed. Once the cause is determined, your doctor can discuss treatment options.
People with this condition usually need to be hospitalized. Antibiotics and medications are typically given to manage the inflammation. In some cases, medications can be used to break up the gallstones and resolve the condition. In other cases, it may be necessary to have a cholecystectomy, in which the gallbladder is removed. If the patient is not stable enough for surgery, tubes may be inserted to drain the gallbladder and the patient will be provided with supportive care until they stabilize and long-term treatment for the cholecystitis can be offered.
After the gallbladder is removed, the patient will be given care instructions so they understand how to live without the gallbladder. Patients usually have to make dietary changes and may need to take certain medications to manage without the gallbladder. Bile is still accessible to the digestive tract because it is produced by the liver, but some digestive activities can be hampered by the lack of a reservoir of bile which is normally held in the gallbladder.
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