Why is there nothing wrong with the B-ultrasound for cholecystitis?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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As for why cholecystitis appears normal in an ultrasound, there are two possible reasons. One possibility is that the medical practitioner conducting the ultrasound may lack sufficient clinical experience to identify an inflamed gallbladder. Another reason could be limitations in the ultrasound equipment itself, which might fail to detect an inflamed gallbladder. There are very few cases where cholecystitis appears normal under ultrasound. The main ultrasound features of cholecystitis include gallbladder wall edema, roughness, and an enlarged gallbladder among other radiological changes. Once cholecystitis is diagnosed, it is crucial to undertake active treatment measures, such as aggressive anti-infection treatment, spasmodic pain relief, etc.

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How is cholelithiasis cholecystitis treated?

The treatment of cholecystitis with gallstones is divided into two main categories. The first category refers to the treatment of asymptomatic gallstone cholecystitis, as well as symptomatic treatment. For asymptomatic cases, treatment can include dietary management for chronic, symptom-free cholecystitis, including those with gallstones. In symptomatic cases, the treatment focuses on improving gallbladder function and symptomatic relief. Dietary treatment mainly suggests regular meals without overeating, promoting a regular eating pattern. The second method is to use medication to improve gallbladder function, and preventive gallbladder removal can also be considered. For symptomatic cases, the primary goal is to control symptoms and reduce inflammation, mainly through medication. If medical treatment is not effective, surgical options may be considered.

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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.

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Written by Huang Gang
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How to deal with nausea and the urge to vomit from cholecystitis?

Nausea and vomiting caused by cholecystitis should be treated with medications according to individual clinical symptoms. At the same time, it is important to make a correct judgment based on the cause of the disease. If cholecystitis is caused by overeating, medications that aid digestion should be used first to alleviate symptoms. If a bacterial infection is confirmed, antibiotics should also be used to reduce inflammation and treat the condition symptomatically. Patients with cholecystitis should maintain a light diet, avoid overeating and greasy food, and should quit smoking and drinking alcohol, maintaining a structured lifestyle.

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Symptoms and Treatment of Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is divided into acute cholecystitis and chronic cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis typically presents very typical and obvious clinical symptoms, primarily manifesting as acute abdominal pain. Acute cholecystitis often occurs after eating greasy food, mainly presenting as severe colicky pain in the upper right abdomen, which is episodic and worsens. The pain may radiate to the right shoulder or back, followed by nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, fever. Some severe cases may also present with jaundice and symptoms of systemic infection and toxicity. Acute simple cholecystitis is often treated non-surgically, and most cases can be cured. If the patient has a history of multiple attacks or the presence of stones, elective cholecystectomy is usually performed later. For suppurative or gangrenous cholecystitis, surgery should be performed promptly after appropriate preparation to remove the diseased gallbladder, typically within three days of onset. If the patient's condition is critical at the time of surgery, or if there is severe local infection and the anatomy is unclear, the doctor will not forcibly remove the gallbladder to avoid major bleeding and damage. Instead, a cholecystostomy may be performed first, followed by cholecystectomy after three months. Chronic cholecystitis, besides occasional upper abdominal discomfort and indigestion, usually shows no prominent symptoms, and most patients only learn about their condition through ultrasound examination. However, for recurrent acute attacks or symptomatic chronic cholecystitis, especially those with stones larger than 1 cm or multiple stones, cholecystectomy should be performed. Elderly or frail individuals with other serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease, may receive medical treatment, including general digestive aids and antispasmodic medications. Bile preparations have choleretic effects, can increase the secretion of bile, promote the digestion and absorption of fats, and facilitate the excretion from the gallbladder, which can alleviate symptoms and stabilize the condition. Considering that acute attacks of chronic cholecystitis in elderly people progress rapidly and that emergency surgery has a much higher mortality rate than elective surgery, it is advisable to perform surgery during a remission period. Whether treated with medication or surgery, it is important to follow medical advice.

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Does cholecystitis hurt?

Whether cholecystitis is painful depends on the nature of the inflammation. If it is acute cholecystitis, it often causes severe pain in the gallbladder area, which is persistent and accompanied by chills, fever, poor spirit, loss of appetite, and even jaundice. If it is chronic cholecystitis, there may not be obvious symptoms of gallbladder pain. However, it can lead to an acute attack of chronic cholecystitis under the conditions of chills, high-fat diet, or other causes, which then causes pain in the gallbladder area.