What to do if you have cholecystitis?

Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on September 02, 2024
00:00
00:00

Cholecystitis usually occurs in people with gallstones or gallbladder polyps. Patients with cholecystitis generally experience discomfort and bloating pain in the upper right abdomen. Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the inner wall of the gallbladder, which can cause abdominal pain in mild cases and lead to bile stasis and suppurative cholecystitis in severe cases. The first step in treating cholecystitis is to actively use antibiotics. Those with cholecystitis should actively use antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also important to maintain a light diet and avoid consuming too many greasy foods. To prevent recurrence, it is generally recommended that patients take oral anti-inflammatory and bile-promoting tablets after cholecystitis symptoms are controlled. These medications can play a preventive role in patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
47sec home-news-image

Can cholecystitis be cured?

Can cholecystitis be cured? The answer is definitely yes. Cholecystitis can be cured through either medical or surgical means. Firstly, if it is chronic cholecystitis without obvious clinical symptoms, one can prevent acute attacks by paying attention to their daily life, avoiding high-fat and high-calorie diets, and keeping warm. If it is acute cholecystitis, then acute anti-infection treatment is needed. Moreover, if the inflammation is severe and the gallbladder is significantly enlarged, or there is even a risk of perforation, then emergency surgical treatment is necessary at this time.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Is cholecystitis hereditary?

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, which is related to dietary habits in our daily lives. For example, people who particularly enjoy oily foods, or generally eat in large quantities, or have irregular eating habits, such as those who often skip breakfast and eat meals inconsistently, are prone to developing cholecystitis. If we consider cholecystitis on its own, it actually does not have a genetic predisposition. However, cholecystitis is often seen in individuals who are obese and have irregular lifestyles, and such traits can typically be related to family habits. For instance, if parents and grandparents are overweight, their children are also likely to be overweight. Similarly, if one's lifestyle is irregular, characterized by inconsistent meals, it might be a reflection of the family's general irregular lifestyle. Therefore, children of parents who suffer from cholecystitis are also more likely to suffer from the condition, not due to genetics, but due to their body type, dietary habits, and family lifestyle practices.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
49sec home-news-image

How to diagnose cholecystitis?

Firstly, we can use physical examination to check. Acute cholecystitis will show tenderness in the upper right abdomen. If pressing below the right ribs causes significant pain, it is likely to be acute cholecystitis. Secondly, instrument examination can be utilized, with the most common and cost-effective being an ultrasound examination. When examining cholecystitis, fasting is required; no food should be consumed for at least eight hours. Additionally, modern CT scans or MRI can be used to help determine whether there is inflammation in the gallbladder. Blood tests can also be conducted; an increase in white blood cells in a routine blood test can indicate the presence of inflammation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
47sec home-news-image

The difference between acute cholecystitis and chronic cholecystitis

Chronic cholecystitis clinically manifests as recurrent dull pain in the upper abdomen and biliary colic, which the patient can quickly relieve on their own; acute cholecystitis involves more severe pain that cannot be relieved without intervention, and is usually accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting. In chronic cholecystitis, pressing on the right upper abdomen elicits no special reaction; in acute cholecystitis, pressing on the right upper abdomen causes obvious pain, known as a positive Murphy's sign. Acute cholecystitis is accompanied by a significant increase in white blood cells, and an ultrasound can reveal a marked enlargement and thickening of the gallbladder wall; chronic cholecystitis does not show these specific characteristics.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
1min 2sec home-news-image

How to Diagnose Cholecystitis

The definitive diagnosis of cholecystitis mainly involves the following aspects: First, clinical manifestations are crucial. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite. Regarding physical examination, there is typically pain in the lower right abdomen and mid-lower right abdomen, with tenderness upon palpation. Furthermore, the onset of cholecystitis is characterized by postprandial pain, particularly after consuming fatty foods or feeling overly full. If these symptoms are present, further examination such as gallbladder ultrasound can be conducted to check for thickening of the gallbladder wall. Additionally, blood tests for inflammatory markers like complete blood count and CRP (C-reactive protein) can be performed. The diagnosis of cholecystitis can be confirmed by combining these symptoms and test results.