Cholecystitis Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment

Cholecystitis symptoms typically present as a severe pain felt in the upper right section of the abdomen. Cholecystitis is sometimes referred to as a gallbladder attack as it is due to an inflammation of the gallbladder. This article shares the medical symptoms associated with this condition, what causes it and what you must do to get relief from the pain and avoid serious health complications.

Cholecystitis Symptoms And Causes

Symptoms may include:

• Severe pain in the upper right abdomen that may worsens if left untreated or upon breathing deeply
• Pain in the right shoulder or upper back that radiates from the abdominal area
• Tenderness over the abdomen
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Burping
• Bloating of the abdomen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) may develop in some cases

The pain and accompanying symptoms may develop soon after eating a meal high in fat.

The condition is cause by the blockage of the duct leaving the gallbladder. This prevents the transportation of bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. The blockage can be caused by gallstones (most common), injury (i.e. trauma or surgery), infection or tumor growth. There are factors that can increase your risk of developing this condition such as gallstones, long labor, abdominal trauma and diabetes.

The condition may develop suddenly (acute cholecystitis), or develop slowly over time (chronic cholecystitis). Cholangitis is an inflammation of the duct carrying bile from the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine (common bile duct) and results in similar symptoms.

Cholecystitis Diagnosis And Treatment

This condition requires medical attention and it is important to consult a physician if you observe the aforementioned symptoms especially if they intensified after a meal high in fat. A physical examination including blood tests, ultrasound studies, a CT scan of the abdomen, or a Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid (HIDA) scan (a scan to track the production and flow of bile) may be required for an accurate diagnosis.

If left untreated, cholecystitis can lead to serious health complications, such as tears in the gallbladder and an infection that spreads to other areas of the abdomen.

Treatment will likely requires a hospital stay. You may be give medications for pain relief and antibiotics to fight bacterial infection. You will likely be refused food or drink but may receive fluids through an IV (intravenous line).

If gallstones are responsible, treatment will often involve surgery to remove the stones or the entire gallbladder (lapraroscopic cholecystectomy). In some cases the treatment will focus on dissolving the gallstones. This may be achieved by medication to dissolve the Gallstones (Ursodiol) or Lithotripsy (using shock waves to shatter the stones into small fragments that can be passed).