Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, the small organ beneath the liver that stores bile, and it most often presents as a sudden acute illness. Gallstones are common and usually silent, yet some lead to cholecystitis; risk rises with female sex, pregnancy, older age, obesity, diabetes and rapid weight change. Most cases arise when a stone blocks the cystic duct, so bile builds up and the gallbladder becomes inflamed and sometimes infected; the rarer stone-free form follows serious illness, injury or sepsis. The main symptom is sudden, persistent pain in the upper right abdomen, often spreading to the right shoulder, with fever, nausea, vomiting or jaundice; gangrene and perforation are serious complications. Assessment combines examination, blood tests and imaging such as ultrasound. Treatment usually begins in hospital with fasting, intravenous fluids, pain relief and antibiotics when infection is suspected; removing the gallbladder may be advised to prevent recurrence.

Seek urgent care for vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing. See a doctor for heartburn more than twice a week, a change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or unexplained weight loss. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.