People with acutecholecystitismay have a fever and a high heart rate.
Labs
People with gallbladder disease often have an elevatedwhite blood cell count.
In addition to an elevated white blood cell count, a person may have elevatedliver function tests.
© Verywell, 2018
In addition to gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening or swelling and gallbladder polyps or masses may be seen.
During an ultrasound, the technician can also perform a “sonographic Murphy’s sign.”
During this maneuver, the ultrasound transducer is pressed on the gallbladder while the patient takes a deep breath.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
If positive, the person will experience pain when the gallbladder is pressed down upon.
This test allows for the visualization of bile movement through the bile duct system.
During aHIDA scan, a radioactive tracer is injected through a person’s vein.
This substance is taken up by liver cells and removed into bile.
It may be used to diagnose a stone in the common bile duct (a condition called choledocholithiasis).
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
AnERCPis both a diagnostic and potentially therapeutic test.
A person is sedated during this procedure so there is no discomfort.
Then, through the endoscope, a small tube is passed into the common bile duct.
This involves touching the area above the gallbladder as you inhale and hold your breath.
Pain during the maneuver is a sign of gallbladder disease.
Other signs may include fever,tachycardia(rapid heartbeat), and jaundice.
Once positioned,contrast dyeis used to visualize the system on an X-ray.
If a gallstone is found, a special tool can be fed through the scope to remove it.
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