Cholecystitisis an inflammation of the gallbladder.
The gallbladder is an organ in the digestive system that is located under the liver.
The gallbladder is wherebile, a substance used in digestion, is stored until it is needed.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
The most common cause of gallbladder inflammation is a buildup of bile becausegallstonesare blocking the bile ducts.
This article will discuss the gallbladder and signs it’s inflamed.
It will then talk about the causes and risk factors for cholecystitis.
What Is the Gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a small pouch-like organ, about 4 inches long.
It is shaped like a pear and sits under the liver.
The function of the gallbladder is to store the bile made in the liver.
Bile is a digestive compound that helps the body digest fat and absorb fat-digestible vitamins from foods.
The bile is released from the gallbladder and into the small intestine through a duct called the cystic duct.
In some cases, the gallbladder mayneed to be removedbecause of disease or damage.
People can live without their gallbladder and in most cases, they don’t experience any long-term adverse effects.
However, some people mightexperience diarrheaafter gallbladder removal or have issues with absorbing fats from their food.
What Are the Signs of Cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis Causes and Risk Factors
There are several potential causes of cholecystitis.
Tests or procedures may be necessary to find out the cause so you can treat it.
People who are of Native American or Hispanic origin may also be at a higher risk for developing cholecystitis.
Cholecystitis can be acute or it can be chronic (long-term).
Acute cholecystitis occurs suddenly, with an abrupt start of symptoms.
Over a period of time, the ongoing inflammation can lead to gallbladder damage.
The gallbladder may become hard and unable to release bile into the bile ducts as effectively as it should.
Infection
Certain viral infections, such asHIV, can cause inflammation in the gallbladder.
Tumor
This is a rare cause of cholecystitis.
The bile ducts could be blocked or narrowed by thegrowth of a tumor.
The buildup of bile that is unable to leave the gallbladder may cause inflammation.
How Do You Diagnose Cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis may be diagnosed through the use of one or more tests.
Abdominal Ultrasound
This test, which is sometimes called sonography, uses sound waves and is non-invasive.
Gallstones may be visible on the results of this test.
Having a detailed image of the gallbladder can help visualize any gallstones or the presence of cholecystitis.
Endoscopic Ultrasound
This test uses ultrasound and endoscopy together.
Images from this test may help clinicians see certain gallbladder problems.
A tracer that contains a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein.
Images of the abdomen are taken while the tracer moves through the body and into the bile ducts.
Its a non-invasive test that can show the presence of gallstones or other abnormalities in the gallbladder.
What Is the Treatment for Cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis is a common condition and is usually treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Treatment for cholecystitis may also include more conservative methods such as antibiotics or other medications that dissolve gallstones.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the gallbladder, called acholecystectomy, is the most common treatment for cholecystitis.
This surgery may take about an hour and is done under general anesthesia.
The gallbladder is removed through an incision in the abdomen.
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is considered safe and most people go on to live a healthy life afterward.
Cholecystectomy might be done with open or with laparoscopic surgery.
The hospital stay will usually be a few days and the recovery at home may take several weeks.
Surgery to remove the gallbladder might be done at a later time when the persons condition improves.
Watch and Wait
Conservative treatment, or watch and wait, might be used in certain cases.
This will likely include a hospital stay to closely monitor the patient’s signs and symptoms.
Antibiotics might be given to get the swelling and inflammation in the gallbladder under control.
Pain medication might be used to treat any discomfort.
Bile helps your body digest fat and absorb fat-digestible vitamins.
The most common cause of cholecystitis is gallstones.
Symptoms of cholecystitis include abdominal pain or tenderness, bloating, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Usually, people experience these after a meal, especially after eating fatty foods.
Cholecystitis is most commonly treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder called a cholecystectomy.
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