Cholecystitis: symptoms, causes, treatment

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Definition

What is cholecystitis?

Cholecystitis is a disease in the form of inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder itself is a small organ on the right side of the stomach that functions to store bile. This organ attaches to the duct through which bile flows from the liver to the intestines.

The bile is removed from the sac while eating to help digest fat from food.

Usually cholecystitis occurs due to gallstones trapped in the ducts that drain bile into the intestines. If left untreated, this disease can cause life-threatening complications.

How common is this disease?

Cholecystitis is a common condition. The case is more common in women and is usually experienced in old age.

However, cholecystitis that is not caused by the gall bladder is more prevalent in men than in women.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of cholecystitis?

Based on the symptoms, cholecystitis appears in two types, namely acute and chronic.

In acute illness, symptoms come on suddenly, causing severe and persistent pain. The pain starts from the middle to the right upper abdomen, then spreads to the right shoulder blade or back. Usually this pain will last 15-20 minutes after eating.

Whereas in chronic diseases, bouts of inflammation have occurred repeatedly so that the pain tends to be less severe and not as long as the pain in acute cholecystitis.

Other symptoms include:

• pain in the chest, upper back, or right shoulder,
• pain when breathing, moving, or when pressed,
• belching, nausea, and vomiting, usually after eating a high-fat diet,
• low body temperature,
• yellowing skin,
• eyes look white,
• pale stools,
• itchy skin, occurs when the main duct that carries bile to the intestine is blocked by stones, and
  
• fever and chills, if the gallbladder has become infected.
  

There may be some signs or symptoms that are not listed. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, please consult with your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you are experiencing new symptoms and are in severe pain, you should seek medical attention immediately. You should also see a doctor if your pain makes it hard to keep quiet.

Cause

What causes cholecystitis?

As already mentioned, frequent inflammation of the gallbladder is caused by the presence of gallstones that block the ducts through which bile flows into the intestine. As a result, bile builds up and causes inflammation. In some cases, this inflammation can also lead to infection.

In addition, here are some other bile disorders that can also cause cholecystitis.

• Tumor. Tumors can block the passage of bile from the gallbladder.
• Bile duct blockage. It doesn't have to be caused by gallstones, a bent, damaged, or injured duct can also cause blockages that lead to cholecystitis.
• AIDS. AIDS and certain other viral infections can also trigger inflammation.
• Blood vessel disorders. Certain diseases can damage blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the gallbladder, causing cholecystitis.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for cholecystitis?

In addition to a history of having gallstones, you are also at higher risk for this disease if:

• are female and are more than 50 or 60 years old,
• often eat foods that are high in fat and cholesterol,
• being overweight or obese,
• have diabetes,
• is pregnant,
• doing estrogen replacement therapy or birth control pills, and
• experiencing rapid weight loss.

Please note, not having the factors above does not mean there is no risk of disease. Therefore, always consult a doctor and maintain your health to avoid bile problems.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How do doctors diagnose this disease?

At first, the doctor will certainly do a physical examination first and ask about the symptoms you are experiencing and your medical history. If the possibility of cholecystitis is suspected, the doctor will perform further tests to establish a diagnosis. Here are a few of them.

• Blood test. Blood sampling aims to look for signs of gallbladder problems and possible infection.
• Imaging test.Imaging tests are usually performed with ultrasound of the abdomen, ultrasound, or endoscopy CT scan. This examination will show gallbladder obstruction which may also reveal any signs of cholecystitis or stones in your bile duct.
• Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA). This test will track the production and flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine. From this test, it will be known whether or not a blockage problem is present. The test is done by injecting a radioactive dye into the body. Later, this dye attaches to the bile-producing cells so that it can be seen as it moves with the bile.

What are my treatment options for cholecystitis?

Usually, you will need to be treated in hospital if you get cholecystitis. During treatment, you will be given pain medication, antibiotics to treat infections, and fluid infusions to avoid dehydration.

At that time, the doctor will also tell you to fast. This is done to give the gall bladder a rest.

Usually, symptoms will disappear within 2 - 3 days after treatment. However, inflammation of the gall bladder can recur. In some cases, the patient must immediately undergo surgery to cure the disease.

Depending on the patient's condition, there are several procedures that can be selected to treat cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Cholescystectomy (cholescystectomy) is a procedure to remove the gallbladder. This procedure is performed by making a small incision in the abdomen and removing the gallbladder using a small camera device called a laparoscope.

Later after surgery, bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine. Usually this procedure is performed on people who develop acute cholecystitis after a day or two of being diagnosed with the disease.

Percutaneous cholecystectomy

This procedure involves draining the gallbladder to prevent the spread of infection. Usually this procedure is performed on patients who are too sick to undergo surgery.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

If the patient has gallstones or a blockage in the bile duct, an ERCP will be performed. This procedure aims to remove stones or something that is blocking the bile duct. ERCP is performed by an endoscopist.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat cholecystitis?

Of course, treatment doesn't just depend on drugs and surgery. If you want to recover quickly, then you also have to make various habit changes such as:

• eat nutritious foods, consume more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoid foods that are high in fat and contain lots of cholesterol,
• maintain an ideal body weight, especially if your body has reached excess weight, you should fix your daily diet and exercise regularly, and
• make sure to lose weight slowly, for example, only 0.5 kilograms per week.

Don't forget to always be vigilant and pay attention to some of the symptoms that appear in your body. If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.