Cholecystitis - an inflammation of the gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ located in the right part of the abdomen under the liver. It contains bile - fluid needed for digestion, which flows from the gallbladder into the small intestine. In most cases, the development of cholecystitis associated with cholelithiasis: the stones block the bile duct, bile stagnates in the gall bladder and becomes inflamed.

Symptoms

Cholecystitis can cause the following symptoms:

• Severe pain in the upper right abdomen;
• Pain radiating to the right shoulder or back;
• Pain when touching the abdomen;
• Sweating;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Heat;
• Chills;
• Bloating.

If you have these symptoms, and they persist for a long time, consult a doctor. If the abdominal pain becomes so severe that you can not go about their daily activities, call an ambulance.

Causes

The causes of inflammation of the gallbladder can be:

• Cholelithiasis. It is a violation in most cases the cause of cholecystitis;
• Tumors. Some tumors as gallstones, can inhibit bile ducts, causing inflammation begins;
• Blocking the bile duct for other reasons, for example due to the formation of scar tissue, can also cause the development of cholecystitis.

The following factors increase the likelihood of disease cholecystitis:

• Gallstones;
• Sex - more women than men become ill as a cholelithiasis and cholecystitis;
• Age. In old age, the likelihood of developing cholecystitis increases sharply.

Complications

Cholecystitis can cause a number of serious complications, including:

• The increase in the gallbladder. If gallbladder inflammation began resulting bile congestion, it may lead to the fact that the gallbladder stretch and starts to increase, and this will cause pain and possibly some of the following complications;
• The infection of the gall bladder can develop as a result of the accumulation of bile in the gall bladder;
• Necrosis of the gallbladder. If untreated, cholecystitis can lead to tissue death of the gallbladder;
• Rupture of the gallbladder - this is the most serious of the possible complications of cholecystitis, which in some cases can lead to death.

Diagnostics

For the diagnosis of cholecystitis used blood tests to help identify an infection or other problems with the gall bladder, and methods of medical imaging, such as ultrasound or CT scan. It can be used diagnostic procedure such as holestsintigrafiya - it helps to track the production and movement of bile, and to identify possible problems in the gallbladder.

Treatment

Treatment of patients with cholecystitis usually involves hospitalization to stabilize the inflammation, then the doctor may prescribe surgery to remove the gallbladder as cholecystitis often resumed some time later. In severe cases, for instance when rupture of the gallbladder, surgery may be required immediately.

Hospitalization

At this stage, the treatment will consist of three main components:

• Starvation. For some time, the patient will not be able to eat or drink - it helps take the weight off the inflamed gallbladder. To prevent dehydration of fluid administered to the patient intravenously.
• Antibiotics. If cholecystitis is caused by an infection, or if because he developed an infection of the gall bladder, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics.
• Anesthesia. Patients taking analgesics to relieve pain and inflammation.

The symptoms of cholecystitis may become significantly less pronounced for one or two days of hospitalization.

Surgery

Surgery to remove the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy, is usually given when the patient begins to feel much better.

Currently, most conducted laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an operation is carried out using a special tool, which is a thin, flexible tube that is attached at the end of a video camera. Also apply a thin surgical instruments that are introduced through four small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon removes the gallbladder, guided by an image that is displayed on the monitor.

After the operation, the bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine. Gallbladder removal does not affect the body's ability to digest food, but it can result in that the patient will suffer more than usual from diarrhea.

Prevention

Since in most cases the cause of cholecystitis is cholelithiasis, you can prevent the onset of the disease by taking the following measures against gallstones:

• If you are overweight, lose weight. However, it should be done gradually, because rapid weight loss may increase the risk of developing gallstones. Try to lose weight by no more than 0.5-1 kg per week.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of gallstones. Eat right and exercise regularly, trying to spend about the same amount of calories as you consume. Limit consumption of fatty foods and eat more fruits, vegetables and whole - these foods are rich in dietary fiber, and a beneficial effect on the work of many internal organs, including the gallbladder.

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