Inflammation of the gallbladder as a result of any cause is called acute cholecystitis. In patients with acute inflammation of the gallbladder, the most common factor causing this is gallstones. However, there may be inflammation in patients who do not have stones in the gallbladder.
What is Gallbladder Inflammation?
The most common factor causing this in patients with acute inflammation of the gallbladder is gallstones. However, there may be inflammation in patients who do not have stones in the gallbladder.
Although acute cholecystitis usually presents with sudden onset abdominal pain, detailed examination and ultrasound imaging are very important since there are different diseases with these symptoms. Acute cholecystitis, which can occur due to any trigger or for no reason, can lead to serious complications that can lead to death if not treated. For this reason, patients who experience symptoms of gallbladder inflammation should apply to health institutions and undergo an examination as soon as possible.
Why Do Gallbladder Stones Cause Gallbladder Inflammation?
The gallbladder is located just below the liver, in the body. It is the storage organ of bile fluid that aids in the digestion of fats. Bile produced in the liver is stored in the gallbladder and transmitted to the small intestines through the channels during the digestive process.
Inflammation of the gallbladder is called acute cholecystitis. The most common cause of acute cholecystitis is gallstones, called cholelithiasis. Although the exact cause of stone formation in the gallbladder is not known, it is a very common health problem in our country and in the world. When stones formed in the gallbladder block the ducts and prevent bile flow, the probability of acute cholecystitis is very high.
The majority of cholecystitis cases occur as a complication of stone formation in the gallbladder. Stones formed in the gallbladder block the bile ducts and cause inflammation in the gallbladder. Bile stasis (stopping of bile flow), which occurs as a result of the obstruction of the ducts by the stone, triggers the release of inflammatory enzymes, causing acute inflammation. 5-10% of acute cholecystitis cases are associated with inflammation without gallstones. It develops as acute acalulous cholecystitis. In both cases, the treatment process should be started without losing time.
What are the Causes of Gallbladder Inflammation Except Gallstones?
Although rare, serious diseases, long-term malnutrition and Acute cholecystitis may develop due to different causes such as tumors. Recurring episodes of cholecystitis indicate that cholecystitis has become chronic. When scientific studies are examined, it has been determined that gallbladder inflammation is much more common in women than in men. Again, although the cause is unknown, the incidence of acute cholecystitis seems to increase with age.
Therefore, advanced age constitutes a risk factor for catching this disease. The fact that the disease is seen with a much higher frequency in American Indians, Scandinavian countries and countries such as Spain brings with it the thought that genetic factors, environmental factors and dietary habits play a role in the development of the disease.
What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Inflammation?
The most common symptom in acute cholecystitis is severe abdominal pain that starts suddenly and lasts for several hours. This pain is usually seen in the upper right part of the abdomen, but may radiate to the right shoulder or back. Abdominal pain from acute cholecystitis is often described as a sharp pain or dull cramps. Many people feel the need to go to the emergency services because the pain is unbearable. In addition to pain, some other symptoms seen in acute cholecystitis are:
- Clay-like pale stools
- Nausea and vomiting
- High fever
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Pains that increase after meals
- Chills and chills
- Swelling in the abdomen
How to Diagnose Gallbladder Inflammation?
The first place of application for individuals with acute cholecystitis is usually the emergency services. The primary reason for this is that it causes sudden and severe abdominal pain. However, since the symptoms of acute cholecystitis have similar characteristics with many different diseases, some diagnostic tests should be applied to diagnose the disease. First of all, a detailed medical history is taken from patients who apply to health institutions. In addition to information such as when the pain started, how its severity is felt, and how it was felt, some information such as the diseases found in the person and the drugs used are also obtained. Then, a physical examination is usually performed.
With this examination performed by the physician, pressure is applied to certain areas of the abdomen and the problematic area causing the pain is tried to be determined, and it is also checked whether there is any swelling in the abdomen. Physical examination has an important place in distinguishing other diseases that can cause severe abdominal pain, especially appendicitis. However, medical imaging techniques should be used for definitive diagnosis. The most common method for this is abdominal ultrasonography. In abdominal ultrasounds, sound waves are used to visualize the organs in the abdominal cavity. Another method that can be used in the diagnosis of cholecystitis is hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
With hepatobiliary scintigraphy, the upper part of the small intestine, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts can be visualized. In this way, problems related to these organs can be detected. With another diagnostic test called cholangiography, a dye is injected into these channels so that the gallbladder and its ducts can be visualized. Computed tomography (CT) scans, on the other hand, are an imaging technique that can be used in the diagnosis of liver and gallbladder diseases, as in all internal organs. In addition to medical imaging tests, some blood tests are also frequently used. In this way, some blood tests such as liver enzymes, bilirubin, and hemogram are applied to investigate the signs of the disease. As a result, a treatment plan is determined for patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis and applications are started.
How to Treat Gallbladder Inflammation?
Patients with acute cholecystitis are usually hospitalized after diagnosis. and kept under observation. Since the gallbladder is part of the digestive system, stopping oral feeding will help the gallbladder rest. Therefore, fluid and nutritional needs are met intravenously (through a vein) during the hospitalization period. In order to reduce the abdominal pain experienced and to fight infection, painkillers and antibiotics are usually recommended. In case of recurrence of cholecystitis, it is generally recommended by physicians to remove the gallbladder with the help of surgical operation. Today, with the developing medical technologies, these operations are performed laparoscopically (closed method) in suitable patients. However, in some patients, open operations may be required depending on the condition of the gallbladder and the anatomical structure of the patient. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is called cholecystectomy.
Food can be digested normally in humans without a gallbladder. In patients who have had their gallbladder removed, bile reaches the small intestine directly. However, in order for the body to get used to it, a low-fat diet should be applied for 2-3 months. Then, individuals who do not have additional diseases can switch to a normal diet. In addition to the treatment process, some measures can be taken against acute cholecystitis. Being overweight and obesity are risk factors for acute cholecystitis. For this reason, reaching the ideal weight of overweight individuals and applying a healthy and balanced diet program significantly reduces the risk of developing both acute and chronic cholecystitis.
Since rapid weight loss can also trigger gallbladder diseases, the slimming process should be continued consciously with personalized nutrition programs under the supervision of a dietitian. At the same time, in individuals with high cholesterol values, the possibility of developing cholecystitis can be reduced by diet and the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, if recommended by the physician.
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