Acute cholecystitis (patient information): Difference between revisions

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* Abdominal x-ray
* Abdominal x-ray
* Oral cholecystogram
* Oral cholecystogram
* Gallbladder radionuclide scan
* Gallbladder radionuclide scan

Revision as of 13:32, 20 August 2012

Acute cholecystitis

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Acute cholecystitis On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Acute cholecystitis

Videos on Acute cholecystitis

FDA on Acute cholecystitis

CDC on Acute cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis in the news

Blogs on Acute cholecystitis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute cholecystitis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute cholecystitis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Acute cholecystitis is a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes severe abdominal pain.

What are the symptoms of Acute cholecystitis?

The main symptom is pain in the upper right side or upper middle of the abdomen. The pain may:

  • Sharp, cramping, or dull
  • Steady
  • Radiating to the back or below the right scapula

Other symptoms that may occur include:

What causes Acute cholecystitis?

  • In 90% of cases, acute cholecystitis is caused by gallstones in the gallbladder.
  • Other causes include severe illness and (rarely) tumors of the gallbladder.
  • Acute cholecystitis occurs when bile becomes trapped in the gallbladder. The buildup of bile causes irritation and pressure in the gallbladder. This can lead to infection and a hole (perforation) in the organ.

Who is at highest risk?

  • Gallstone disease
  • Women are at more risk than men.
  • Native Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of gallstones than most other people.

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

  • Abdomen is tender to the touch.

Laboratory Tests

Blood tests
Imaging tests - show gallstones or inflammation
  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Abdominal CT scan
  • Abdominal x-ray
  • Oral cholecystogram
  • Gallbladder radionuclide scan