What is Cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. It occurs when drainage from the gallbladder becomes blocked at the opening, often by a gallstone. It may be acute (sudden) and cause severe pain in the upper abdomen or it may be chronic (multiple recurrent) with swelling and irritation that occurs over time.
Types of Cholecystitis
There are two types of cholecystitis:
Acute cholecystitis is the sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes marked abdominal pain, often with nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Chronic cholecystitis is a lower intensity inflammation of the gallbladder that lasts a long time. It may be caused by repeat attacks of acute cholecystitis. Chronic cholecystitis may cause intermittent mild abdominal pain, or no symptoms at all. Damage to the walls of the gallbladder leads to a thickened, scarred gallbladder. Ultimately, the gallbladder can shrink and lose its ability to store and release bile.
Causes of Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed. Gallbladder inflammation can be caused by:
Infection: Multi parasites invasion, bacterial infections like S. typhi, S. paratyphi, malaria parasites and many others worms can trigger gallbladder inflammation.
Gallstones: Often times, Cholecystitis is the result of hard particles (gallstones) that develop in the gallbladder. Gallstones can block the cystic duct through which bile flows when it leaves the gallbladder. The bile builds up due to the blockage, causing inflammation.
Bile duct blockage: Blockages can be caused by scarring of the bile ducts by colonies of parasites or other bacteria, that could also lead to Cholecystitis.
Tumor: Bile may not drain out of the gallbladder properly due to the presence of a tumor. This may cause bile buildup that can lead to Cholecystitis.
Blood vessel problems: some very severe illness can damage blood vessels and decrease blood flow to the gallbladder, leading to Cholecystitis.
Symptoms of Cholecystitis
- Under Rt site of the ribs (Right upper quadrant pain in the abdomen), fever. Pain generally occurs around the gallbladder, in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
- In cases of acute Cholecystitis, the pain starts suddenly it is intense, but does not go away, it will usually get worse if left untreated, and breathing in deeply will make the pain worse.
Other symptoms may include:
- Bloating of the abdominal cavity
- The upper-right hand side of the abdomen will feel tender
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Slight fever and chills with acute Cholecystitis.
- After especially a meal that is high in fat, the symptoms will worsen.
- Pain in Right shoulder
- Pain at the Right back side on the liver projection.
- Yellowish tongue.
- Burning sensation in the feet.
When To See A Doctor
Make appointment with our doctors' if the abdominal pain is so severe that sitting still or feeling comfortable becomes impossible. Patients who may not be able to drive could have someone drive them to our facility.
Risk Factors
The following may increase the risk of developing gallstones:
- Family history of gallstones on the mother’s side of the family
- Diabetes
- Hyperlipidemia
- End-stage kidney disease
- Coronary artery disease (Atherosclerosis)
- Obesity
- Rapid loss of weight
- Pregnancy
- One has a high chance of Cholecystitis if you have hypodynamia and stress
- Long labor during childbirth can damage the gallbladder, raising the risk of Cholecystitis.
Diagnosis for Cholecystitis
Tests and procedures used to diagnose this condition include:
- Blood tests: Our doctors may order blood tests to look for signs of infection or signs of gallbladder problems.
- Imaging tests that show the gallbladder – An abdominal ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan can be used to create pictures of your gallbladder. This may reveal signs of Cholecystitis or stones in the bile ducts and gallbladder.
Treatment for Cholecystitis
Our doctors may suggest among others:
- Stop taking fried and oily food to rest the gallbladder
- Pain-relief herbal medicine like Hepatocare syrup, Stels Capsules, Milobet tincture and Milax tea to relieve symptoms
- Cystal and Yuwy capsules to treat infection
- A special, low-fat diet
Taken our herbal medicine can prevent you from other doctors recommendations for the following procedures:
Laparoscopic surgery: A belly button and several small cuts are used to insert a laparoscope to see inside the abdomen and remove the gallbladder. It may be necessary toput the patient to sleep for the surgery.
Open surgery: An incision is made in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. You will be put to sleep during the surgery.
If for any reason patient cannot have surgery, doctors may drain bile from the gallbladder. This may be done by:
Percutaneous cholecystectomy: Using ultrasound or CT guidance a radiologist places a tube through the skin directly into the gallbladder. Blocked or infected bile is removed to reduce inflammation. This type of procedure is done usually in patients who are too sick to have their gallbladder removed. Patient is sedated for this procedure and the tube typically will need toremain in place for a few weeks.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This procedure is done by a gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in abdominal disorders). All of this may be done without making any incision in the abdomen. A camera on a flexible tube is passed from the mouth through the stomach and into the beginning of the small bowel. Exactly where the common bile duct meets the small intestine. The valve mechanism at the end of the bile duct (called the sphincter) can be examined and opened to clear blocked bile and stones. They also may use a laser fiber to destroy small gallstones or use a basket or balloon to retrieve stones or stone fragments. This procedure could bring about someinflammation or injury to the pancreas. Patient will be sedated throughout this procedure.
Percutaneous Trans-hepaticcholangiography (PTC): Another procedure done by a radiologist. Using imaging as guidance, a needle is placed in the bile ducts within the liver. Contrast material is then injected to help locate gallstones that may be blocking bile flow. Some stones may be bypassed by leaving a small tube(stent) in place to allow bile to get around the area of blockage. This helps reduce inflammation. Patient will be sedated for this procedure.
Normally, symptoms decrease in two or three days. However, gallbladder inflammation often returns. Most people with the condition eventually need surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Surgery to remove gallbladder is called a Cholecystectomy. Usuallya minimally invasive procedure, it involves Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (few tiny incisions in the abdomen). Thus an open procedure which a long incision is made in the abdomen, is rarely required.
Once the gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine. It makes you be on the low –fat diet continuously for the rest of your life.
Complications
Cholecystitis can lead to a number of serious complications, including:
- Gallbladder Infection: If bile builds up within the gallbladder, the bile may become infected.
- Torn gallbladder: A perforation in the gallbladder may be the result of a gallbladder swelling, infection or death of tissue.
- Death of gallbladder tissue: If left untreated, Cholecystitis can cause tissue in the gallbladder to die. This can lead to a tear in the gallbladder, or it may cause your gallbladder to burst. This is the most common complication, especially among older people.
Prevention for Cholecystitis
The risk of Cholecystitis can be reduced by taking steps such as the following, to prevent gallstones:
- Lose weight slowly: Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones. One could aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week and not a drastic weight loss.
- Choose a healthy diet: Diets that are high in fat and low in fiber may increase one’s risk of gallstones. To lower the risk, a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains will be preferable.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight makes one more likely to develop gallstones. To achieve a healthy weight, reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity. Maintain a healthy weight by continuing to eat well and exercise.
