Cholecystitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

On the right side of the abdomen, there is a pear-shaped organ located under the liver in human beings called the gallbladder. The role of this organ is essential for the digestive system as it stores and concentrates an important enzyme known as bile. Thus, if the gallbladder becomes inflamed, proper digestion would not be able to take place as enough bile will not be stored in it. This inflammation is known as cholecystitis, which mainly occurs due to blockages in the drainage pathway of the gallbladder. As a result, there is excessive storage of bile in the organ causing unwanted swelling. The condition is diagnosed by conducting ultrasounds, CT scans, and other advanced imaging techniques.

Symptoms 

Cholecystitis is a condition in which the patient tends to experience pain on the right side of her/his abdomen. While some patients have the acute form of the disease wherein the pain radiates in the middle or upper part of the abdomen, others who have chronic cholecystitis tend to experience recurrent inflammation of their gallbladder. In both scenarios, patients might experience nausea, vomiting, fever, increased abdominal pain while breathing in, and cramping after food intake. If the gallbladder is not treated or surgically removed, then the situation can be fatal as well.

Causes 

The most common cause of cholecystitis, acute or chronic, is the presence of gallstones in the organ. These hard particles that appear to be like stones can block the drainage pathway that further restricts the bile to flow out of the gallbladder. Another reason that leads to the development of this condition is the presence of tumour inside the organ. Blockages in the bile duct that is left untreated can also cause inflammation of the gallbladder. Certain viral infections such as AIDS are known for causing cholecystitis in the human body. Moreover, issues related to the proper working of the blood vessels might also cause swelling of the gallbladder in some severe cases.

Treatment 

For those who are suspected to have this disease, abdominal ultrasound and CT scans would be prescribed by a medical practitioner. After thoroughly analysing the severity of the condition, a gastroenterologist will start the treatment by prescribing antibiotics, pain medication and the like. Dietary changes would also be needed to be made by the patient so that the consumption of fat is significantly reduced. However, in chronic cases, removing the gallbladder would be a wiser move so that the condition stops reoccurring. This is done by laparoscopic surgery, which is a minimally invasive procedure.

Therefore, patients suffering from cholecystitis need to get the right course of treatment for successfully curing this condition. Those who are researching “ultrasound centres near me” should only choose a pathology lab that has a good reputation and positive customer reviews.

About This Author

Shaina Verma Joined: November 29th, 2019