Inflamed Gallbladder

The medical term used for the inflammation of the gallbladder is cholecystitis. Gallbladder is a tiny sac like organ connected to the liver. It is the reservoir of bile, which is required to digest fats in the intestine. So, whenever, we consume a high fat diet, bile is released by the gallbladder through the bile duct to the intestine to facilitate the digestion of fat. An inflamed gallbladder is usually a result of the formation of gallstones. There are generally two types of cholecystitis, acute and chronic. Acute cholecystitis is characterized by sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that come with a sharp and intense abdominal pain, while chronic cholecystitis is marked by an inflammation of low intensity, that has lasted for a long time.

Gallbladder Inflammation

Causes
Cholecystitis is generally caused by the formation of gallstones. When the gallstones block the cystic duct, bile starts to accumulate inside the gallbladder, and cause inflammation and infection of the organ. This is the most common cause of acute cholecystitis, accounting for almost 90% of the total cases. Chronic cholecystitis, can occur due to repeated inflammation. This can cause extensive damage to the wall of the gallbladder, due to which it can thicken or get scarred. Rarely, serious illness and tumor in the gallbladder can also be responsible for causing cholecystitis.

Symptoms
It is characterized by a pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. In case of acute cholecystitis, the abdominal pain is sharp and intense, that is usually experienced after eating fatty or greasy foods. Sometimes, this pain can radiate to the back or below the right shoulder blade. In addition to abdominal pain, it can also be accompanied by low fever, chills, indigestion, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.

If the gallstones come out of the gallbladder and obstruct the common bile duct, then the flow of bile from the liver to the intestine can get blocked. This can result in complications like, cholangitis or inflammation of the bile duct, which can present symptoms like, fever, jaundice and abdominal pain. Chronic cholecystitis, on the other hand, is marked by an intermittent pain in the abdomen and some non-specific symptoms like, nausea, belching, abdominal discomfort and chronic diarrhea. Sometimes, chronic cholecystitis may not produce any symptom at all.

Treatment
Diagnosis usually requires a thorough analysis of the symptoms, as well as some laboratory tests like, complete blood count test, blood tests for determining the level of the enzymes, amylase and lipase, and the level of the pigment bilirubin, ultrasound and liver function test. Physical examination of the patient often reveals a tender abdomen. Both dietary restrictions and medications are used to treat acute cholecystitis. Usually, acute as well as chronic cholecystitis require hospitalization of the patient, where he or she is given fluid and electrolyte intravenously. During this period, the patient is not allowed to consume any food or drink. Meanwhile, the stomach is suctioned in order to keep it empty, and to prevent accumulation of fluid in the intestine. Once, an attack of acute cholecystitis subsides, the physician may suggest low fat diet.

If infection is present, then antibiotics are prescribed, which are also administered intravenously. Pain medications, as well as medications to control nausea and vomiting can be required, depending on the severity of these symptoms. If these remedies fail to treat the condition, and if acute cholecystitis leads to severe complications like, gangrene, inflammation of the common bile duct, abscess formation and perforation of the gallbladder, then surgery has to be carried out to remove the gallbladder. Surgery is often carried out with the help of a laparoscope. Surgery is also the preferred treatment option for chronic cholecystitis.

If not treated on time, it can lead to some serious complications. Therefore, on observing any of the symptom of cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder, it is very important to inform your physician about it. Fatty and greasy foods should be avoided by the people experiencing recurrent attacks of acute cholecystitis or inflamed gallbladder. A diet low in fat can be very helpful in preventing the attacks of cholecystitis. However, surgical removal of the gallbladder is the more commonly preferred option for preventing the recurrences of acute cholecystitis.