Acute cholecystitis

Treatment:

Although most cases of cholecystitis resolve on their own, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the usual treatment because inflammation frequently recurs.

Emergency surgery is done when gangrene (tissue death), perforation, pancreatitis, or inflammation of the common bile duct occurs.

Nonsurgical treatment consists of pain control, decompression of the pressure in the abdomen by a tube placed in the stomach, antibiotics to eliminate the infection, and a low fat diet when food is tolerated after the acute attack.

Expectations (prognosis):

Acute cholecystitis resolves by itself in 90% of cases. However, the other 10% of those affected will develop complications.

Complications:

• empyema (pus in the gallbladder)
• peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen)
• gangrene (tissue death) of the gallbladder

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if severe abdominal pain persists.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of cholecystitis recur after an acute episode.

Picture:
P0109.pctCholecystitis, cholangiogram
P0110.pctCholecystitis, CT scan
P0219.pctGallstones, cholangiogram