Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)

Gallbladder inflammation, or in other words, cholecystitis, occurs as a result of the gallbladder being blocked by stones. Stones that block the gallbladder create edema in this area. Gallbladder inflammation causes the person to feel pain in the abdominal area and radiating to the back, especially after meals. Gallbladder inflammation can often heal spontaneously without the need for any treatment. However, as gallstones, the most common cause of gallbladder inflammation, persist, infection attacks may recur. Each time gallbladder inflammation recurs, its course becomes worse than the previous one. Therefore, the gallbladder and stones may need to be removed for complete treatment of gallbladder inflammation. Op. Dr. İbrahim Çolhan, serving his patients in Adana, explained what gallbladder inflammation is, what its symptoms are, and how it is treated.

What is Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)?

Gallbladder inflammation is an inflammation that occurs as a result of the gallbladder being blocked by stones. Stones in the gallbladder block the exit of the gallbladder during meals. The blockage of the bile ducts prevents the gallbladder from emptying completely, and as a result, inflammation can occur in the gallbladder. One of the causes of gallbladder inflammation is benign or malignant gallbladder tumors. Duodenal and pancreatic head tumors can also lead to the development of gallbladder inflammation. In addition to all these, conditions such as liver diseases, pregnancy, and obesity are among the factors that increase the risk of gallbladder inflammation.

What Causes Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)?

The vast majority (approximately 95 percent) of gallbladder inflammation cases are caused by gallstones. As a result of conditions that slow down bile flow, bile cannot be emptied and begins to accumulate in the gallbladder. The bile remaining here gradually solidifies into stones. These stones can block the bile ducts and lead to inflammation.

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)?

The most basic symptoms of gallbladder inflammation cases include severe pain felt in the upper abdomen after meals. These pains radiate to the patient's back. Other symptoms of gallbladder inflammation include indigestion, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

• Fever
• Pain felt in the upper right part of the abdomen, radiating to the back
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Feeling of fatigue
• Back pain
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice in the skin and eyes

How is Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis) Diagnosed?

When diagnosing gallbladder inflammation, a comprehensive physical examination is first performed on the patient. Often, this physical examination is sufficient to make a diagnosis. However, nowadays, biochemical and radiological auxiliary diagnostic tests are also available. One of the most important examination findings is the cessation of breathing during examination of the right upper quadrant. Among radiological examinations, ultrasonography is the most preferred method because it does not contain radiation. Ultrasonography is successful in diagnosing cholecystitis cases caused by gallstones.

Other diseases related to the bile ducts also show similar findings to gallbladder inflammation. For this reason, differential diagnostic tools such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are utilized. The ERCP method can also be used as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for bile duct diseases.

How is Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis) Treated?

The most commonly used treatment for gallbladder inflammation cases today is the complete surgical removal of the gallbladder from the body. This surgery can be performed either by open surgery or by laparoscopic (closed) surgery, depending on the situation. It is possible to say that the laparoscopic surgical method is more attractive due to factors such as patient comfort and shorter recovery time. In open surgery, an incision of 20 to 25 cm needs to be made in the patient's abdominal wall. Anesthesia time is longer. The patient will have more pain complaints related to the incision, and at the same time, the risk of complications such as infection and herniation is higher.

In gallbladder surgery performed with the laparoscopic surgical method, the incisions made are minimal. The largest incision is one cm in size. The operation can be performed with three minimal incisions. A special camera and surgical equipment are inserted into the patient's body through these incisions, and the intervention is performed. Anesthesia time and operation time are shorter compared to open surgeries. Another advantage of laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries is that the time required to stay in the hospital is quite short. It becomes possible for the patient to return to their normal daily life much earlier. Complications are less common in the surgical area. For this reason, laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries are accepted as the gold standard treatment method today.

If the patient's general health condition prevents surgery, treatment can also be performed by placing a drainage catheter into the gallbladder. Cooling therapy is also among the methods used for gallbladder inflammation. In this procedure, antibiotic therapy is first applied to the patient. After eight weeks, gallbladder surgery is performed. However, clinical studies on this subject show that patients undergoing cooling therapy return to their daily lives later and need to be kept under observation in the hospital for a longer period. The prolonged hospital stay also increases treatment costs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)

What are the types of cholecystitis?

Cholecystitis is defined as inflammation of the gallbladder that occurs as a result of gallstones blocking the cystic duct. The most typical symptoms of this condition are abdominal pain radiating to the back, nausea, and fever. Gallbladder inflammation usually appears in four different ways. These are classified as chronic, acute, calculous (with gallstones), and acalculous (without gallstones).

What is Acute Cholecystitis?

Acute cholecystitis is the sudden inflammation of the gallbladder. The most obvious symptom of acute cholecystitis cases is severe pain complaints that suddenly occur in the upper right part of the abdomen and radiate towards the right shoulder.

What is the Difference Between Gallstones and Cholecystitis?

Gallstones are the primary cause of inflammation that occurs in the gallbladder. When a gallstone blocks the bile duct reaching the small intestine, it leads to the accumulation of bile fluid here, and as a result, inflammation and edema occur. This is called cholecystitis.

What Should Be Paid Attention to in Gallbladder Inflammation?

The gallbladder contracts more during the consumption of fatty foods. Therefore, during an inflammatory condition, the patient should avoid fatty foods as much as possible. Eggs should not be consumed during this period. Eating foods rich in vitamin C is effective against inflammation and infection. After surgical treatment, since the inflammation is eliminated, the person can resume consuming eggs and fatty foods.