Acute cholecystitis (patient information)
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Acute cholecystitis |
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Acute cholecystitis On the Web |
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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.
Gallstones occur more often in women than men. Gallstones become more common with age in both sexes. Native Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of gallstones than most other people.