Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, a small bag that is in contact with the liver and stores bile, a very important fluid for the digestion of fats, this inflammation can be acute, called acute cholecystitis, with intense symptoms and rapidly worsening, or chronic, with milder symptoms lasting weeks to months.
Cholecystitis causes signs and symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and tenderness in the abdomen.Pain that lasts more than 6 hours can make the difference between acute cholecystitis and chronic cholelithiasis pain.
Acute inflammation of the gallbladder can occur through two mechanisms:
Lithiatitis or calculus: is the main cause of cholecystitis and is most common in middle-aged women; occurs when a calculus, also called a calculus, causes a blockage of the canal that empties the bile, so bile accumulates in the gallbladder.and makes it swell and inflame. Understand what causes gallbladder stones;
In all cases, cholecystitis should be treated as soon as possible and should not wait much more than 6 hours after the onset of symptoms, to avoid more serious complications, such as gallbladder rupture or widespread infection.
The most characteristic symptom of cholecystitis is abdominal pain, however, other symptoms can vary if it is an acute or chronic disease.
In most cases, signs and symptoms of cholecystitis include
In addition to these signs, the doctor also looks for Murphy’s sign, which is very common in cholecystitis and which involves asking the person to inhale deeply, while pressing the abdomen in the upper right, the signal is considered positive and therefore therefore indicative. of cholecystitis, when the person holds their breath and does not continue to inhale.
Symptoms usually appear about 1 hour or more after fatty foods are ingested, as the body uses bile to help digest fat and absorb nutrients.
However, in patients over 60 years of age or older, symptoms may be different, in these cases it is important to be aware of other signs such as mental confusion, fever and colder blue skin.get to the hospital quickly.
Chronic cholecystitis is prolonged and prolonged inflammation, caused by a process similar to that of acute cholecystitis, and may or may not be associated with the presence of stones.
Symptoms usually appear after eating foods that are high in fat and at the end of the day, similar to those of acute cholecystitis, but milder:
Chronic cholecystitis appears to be caused by small episodes of gallbladder inflammation, which occur several times over time; As a result of these repeated seizures, the gallbladder may undergo changes, becoming smaller and with thicker walls, can also develop complications, such as calcification of its walls, called a porcelain gallbladder, fistula formation, pancreatitis or cancer development.
When suggestive symptoms of cholecystitis appear, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist to discuss the case and perform diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, ultrasound or chokinylography.
Cholecintilography is often used when the ultrasound result is not clear enough to assess whether the bladder is thickened or inflamed, or if you have trouble filling it.
In most cases, cholecystitis is caused by gallstones, which cause a blockage of bile flow in a canal called a cystic channel, allowing bile to escape from the gallbladder.have no symptoms, and about 1/4 of people with stones develop acute cholecystitis at any given time.
In some cases, the blockage is not caused by a stone, but by a lump, a tumor, the presence of parasites or even after surgery on the bile ducts.
In cases of cholecystitis alitistica, inflammation of the gallbladder occurs from causes that are not yet well known, but the elderly, seriously ill, complicated or diabetic are at risk.
Treatment for cholecystitis usually begins with admission to the hospital to help control inflammation and relieve pain, and then surgery to remove the gallbladder.It is generally recommended to operate the gallbladder within the first 3 days of the onset of acute inflammation.
Therefore, treatment may include
In cases where cholecystitis is very severe and the patient cannot be surgically surgery immediately, a drainage of the gallbladder is performed, which helps to remove pus from the gallbladder and reduce inflammation, thus opening the blocked canal.At the same time, antibiotics are given to prevent gallbladder infection.Once the condition is more stable, surgery to remove the gallbladder may already be done.