Acute cholecystitis

Symptoms:

• abdominal fullness, gaseous
• abdominal pain
  • severe
  • located on the right side (right upper quadrant) or in the upper middle of the abdomen (epigastric)
  • may subside over 12 to 18 hours in uncomplicated cases
  • recurrent or with similar pain in past
  • occurs within minutes following meals
  • during deep inspiration
  • radiating to back or below the right shoulder blade (right scapular area)
  • worsened after eating or drinking greasy (high fat) foods or fluids

• fever
• nausea
• vomiting
• jaundice, yellow color of the skin
• heartburn
• chills and shaking
• chest pain under the breastbone

Signs and tests:

Examination of the abdomen by touch (palpation) reveals tenderness.

Tests that detect the presence of gallstones or inflammation include:

• abdominal ultrasound
• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal X-ray
• oral cholecystogram
• gall bladder radionuclide scan
• A CBC shows infection by an elevated white blood cell count.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Schilling test
• lipase
• CEA
• amylase
• amylase, urine
• abdominal MRI
• chemistry panel (chem-20)