What are the common symptoms of gallstone disease. How is gallstone disease diagnosed. What are the different types of gallstones. What diagnostic procedures are used for gallstone disease. How is gallstone disease treated.

Understanding Gallstone Disease: An Overview

Gallstone disease is a prevalent disorder affecting the biliary system, which is responsible for transporting bile in the body. This condition involves the formation of solid, pebble-like masses called gallstones in the gallbladder or biliary tract. These stones develop when bile hardens due to an excess of cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin.

Types of Gallstones

There are two primary types of gallstones:

• Cholesterol stones: Yellow-green in color, these account for 80% of gallstones in the United States. They are predominantly found in women and obese individuals.
• Pigment stones: These can be black or brown and typically develop in patients with other liver conditions, such as cirrhosis or biliary tract infections.

Recognizing Gallstone Disease Symptoms

Many individuals with gallstones may not experience any symptoms initially. Symptoms often appear only when complications arise, usually caused by inflammation, infection, or obstruction. The primary symptom of gallstone disease is biliary colic, which is characterized by:

• Sudden onset of constant abdominal pain, typically in the right upper side
• Pain lasting from 15 minutes to several hours
• Discomfort aggravated by meals, especially fatty foods

Additional symptoms associated with biliary colic may include:

• Fatty food intolerance
• Vomiting
• Right shoulder pain
• Flatulence
• Sweating
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Clay-colored stools

Diagnostic Procedures for Gallstone Disease

Diagnosing gallstone disease involves a comprehensive approach, beginning with a thorough physical examination and medical history review. While the physical exam may often be normal, sometimes the gallbladder can be felt, and there may be abdominal tenderness. Various diagnostic procedures are employed to confirm the presence of gallstones and assess their impact on the biliary system.

Laboratory Tests

Blood tests are conducted to evaluate liver function. Abnormal results may indicate complications from gallstones.

Imaging Scans

Several imaging techniques are used to detect and locate gallstones:

• Ultrasound: Considered the best noninvasive test for detecting gallstones in the gallbladder, it uses sound waves to create images of organs.
• CT scan: A powerful X-ray that can detect complications of gallstone disease and help determine if urgent surgical intervention is necessary.
• MRI and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): These techniques use magnetic waves to create detailed images of the gallbladder and bile ducts.
• Cholecystingraphy: This procedure involves injecting a radioactive substance to visualize the gallbladder and bile ducts.

Endoscopic Diagnosis

Endoscopic procedures offer a more direct approach to visualizing the biliary system:

• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This is the preferred method for detecting gallstones in the common bile duct. It allows for both diagnosis and potential stone removal.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): Combines endoscopy and ultrasound to produce detailed images of the bile duct and gallbladder. While it cannot remove gallstones, it is an accurate diagnostic tool with lower complication risks compared to ERCP.

Treatment Options for Gallstone Disease

The treatment approach for gallstone disease depends on the severity of symptoms and the presence of complications. Options range from conservative management to surgical intervention.

Conservative Management

For asymptomatic gallstones or mild symptoms, a wait-and-see approach may be recommended. This involves lifestyle modifications and regular monitoring.

Medication

In some cases, medication may be prescribed to dissolve small gallstones or manage symptoms. However, this approach is not effective for all types of gallstones and may take months or years to show results.

Surgical Intervention

Cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder, is the most common treatment for symptomatic gallstones. This procedure can be performed through traditional open surgery or laparoscopically, with the latter being preferred due to its minimally invasive nature.

Preventing Gallstone Formation

While not all gallstones can be prevented, certain lifestyle choices may help reduce the risk of their formation:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Following a balanced diet low in saturated fats and high in fiber
• Regular exercise
• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding rapid weight loss

Complications of Untreated Gallstone Disease

If left untreated, gallstone disease can lead to several serious complications:

• Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder
• Choledocholithiasis: Blockage of the common bile duct
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
• Cholangitis: Infection of the bile ducts
• Gallbladder cancer: Though rare, chronic inflammation can increase the risk

Living with Gallstone Disease: Management and Lifestyle Adjustments

For individuals diagnosed with gallstone disease, certain lifestyle adjustments can help manage symptoms and prevent complications:

Dietary Modifications

Adopting a gallbladder-friendly diet can significantly reduce symptoms and prevent the formation of new gallstones. This typically involves:

• Reducing intake of saturated and trans fats
• Increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Limiting processed foods and sugary beverages
• Incorporating lean proteins and healthy fats from sources like fish, nuts, and olive oil

Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for managing gallstone disease. However, it’s important to approach weight loss gradually, as rapid weight loss can actually increase the risk of gallstone formation. A steady, sustainable approach to weight management is recommended.

Regular Exercise

Physical activity plays a vital role in managing gallstone disease. Regular exercise can help:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Improve digestion and metabolism
• Reduce the risk of gallstone formation
• Alleviate stress, which can exacerbate symptoms

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can worsen symptoms of gallstone disease and potentially contribute to its development. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into daily life can be beneficial:

• Meditation and mindfulness practices
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga or tai chi
• Regular relaxation time
• Adequate sleep

Monitoring and Follow-up Care

Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider are essential for managing gallstone disease. These appointments allow for:

• Monitoring of symptoms and potential complications
• Adjustment of treatment plans as needed
• Early detection of any new gallstones or changes in existing ones
• Discussion of any concerns or questions about managing the condition

Advances in Gallstone Disease Research and Treatment

The field of gallstone disease management is continuously evolving, with ongoing research aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Improved Diagnostic Techniques

Advancements in imaging technology have led to more accurate and less invasive diagnostic procedures. For example:

• High-resolution ultrasound techniques that can detect smaller gallstones
• Advanced MRI protocols that provide detailed images of the biliary system
• Artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis for more precise diagnosis

Novel Treatment Approaches

While cholecystectomy remains the gold standard for treating symptomatic gallstones, research is ongoing into alternative treatments:

• Improved lithotripsy techniques for non-surgical stone fragmentation
• Development of more effective stone-dissolving medications
• Exploration of minimally invasive procedures for gallstone removal without gallbladder removal

Genetic Research

Studies into the genetic factors influencing gallstone formation are providing new insights into the disease’s pathogenesis. This research may lead to:

• Identification of individuals at higher risk for gallstone development
• Personalized prevention strategies based on genetic profiles
• Development of targeted therapies

Microbiome Studies

Emerging research is exploring the role of the gut microbiome in gallstone disease. This area of study may offer new perspectives on:

• The influence of gut bacteria on bile composition and gallstone formation
• Potential probiotic interventions for prevention or management of gallstones
• The impact of diet on the microbiome and gallstone risk

The Economic and Social Impact of Gallstone Disease

Gallstone disease not only affects individual health but also has broader economic and social implications:

Healthcare Costs

The treatment of gallstone disease, particularly surgical interventions, contributes significantly to healthcare expenditures. Factors include:

• Direct costs of diagnosis and treatment
• Indirect costs due to lost productivity and work absences
• Long-term healthcare needs for patients with complications

Quality of Life

Gallstone disease can substantially impact an individual’s quality of life, affecting:

• Dietary choices and eating habits
• Physical activity and exercise routines
• Mental health and stress levels
• Social interactions and relationships

Public Health Considerations

From a public health perspective, gallstone disease presents several challenges:

• Increasing prevalence, particularly in Western countries
• Association with other health issues such as obesity and metabolic syndrome
• Need for targeted prevention strategies and public education

As research continues to advance our understanding of gallstone disease, it is hoped that more effective prevention strategies and treatment options will emerge, reducing the burden of this common condition on individuals and healthcare systems alike.

Gallstone Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Gallstone disease is the most common disorder affecting the biliary system, the body’s system of transporting bile. Gallstones are solid, pebble-like masses that form in the gallbladder or the biliary tract (the ducts leading from the liver to the small intestine). They form when the bile hardens and are caused by an excess of cholesterol, bile salts or bilirubin.

Types of Gallstones

There are two types of gallstones:

• Cholesterol stones: These are yellow-green stones, predominately found in women and obese people. Cholesterol stones account for 80 percent of gallstones. This is the most common type in the United States.
• Pigment stones: These may be black or brown and tend to develop in patients who have other liver conditions, such as cirrhosis or biliary tract infections.

Gallstone Disease Symptoms

Many people with gallstones do not experience any symptoms. Often, symptoms only appear when there are complications. The complications may be caused by inflammation, infection or obstruction.

The main symptom of gallstone disease is biliary colic. Biliary colic appears suddenly and builds quickly to a peak. It is a constant abdominal pain, usually in the right upper side of the abdomen, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. This pain is usually aggravated by meals, especially fatty food.

Biliary colic may also include:

• Fatty food intolerance
• Vomiting
• Right shoulder pain
• Flatulence
• Sweating
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Clay-colored stool

Gallstone Disease Diagnosis

A diagnosis of gallstone disease begins with a comprehensive physical exam during which you describe your symptoms and medical history. Often, the physical exam will be completely normal. Sometimes, your doctor can feel the gallbladder, and there may be some abdominal tenderness. Other diagnostic procedures include:

• Laboratory tests
• Imaging scans
• Endoscopic diagnosis

Laboratory Tests

Blood tests will check your liver function. If there are complications from gallstones, the tests will be abnormal.

Imaging Scans

Gallstones, especially those that are asymptomatic, are often discovered accidentally during an imaging scan for another problem. If you need an imaging scan based on your history and physical exam, there are a number of procedures available. Imaging scans use different technologies to determine the presence and location of gallstones.

• Ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound is the best noninvasive test for detecting gallstones in the gallbladder. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your organs. It is a simple, safe and painless procedure that provides accurate information about the presence of gallstones.
• CT scan: A CT scan is a powerful X-ray. It can detect complications of gallstone disease, such as excess fluid, gas in the gallbladder wall, gallbladder perforations and abscesses (collections of pus in the body). A CT scan may help determine if you need urgent surgical intervention.
• MRI and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): An MRI uses strong magnetic waves to create a detailed picture. An MRCP uses MRI imaging with special software to help detect gallstones and bile duct stones and evaluate the gallbladder for presence of cholecystitis (inflammation).
• Cholecystingraphy: You receive an intravenous radioactive substance, which your liver absorbs and then is secreted into the gallbladder and bile ducts. Scans are then taken that can accurately detect acute inflammation of the gallbladder.

Endoscopic Diagnosis

An endoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted tube inserted into your mouth. It reaches your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Using the endoscope, you doctor can visualize your biliary system.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the preferred method for detecting gallstones in the common bile duct. Because the endoscope is in position, stones can be removed during an ERCP. During this procedure:

• A special side-viewing endoscope called a duodenoscope is used.
• This scope is specially designed to allow the placement of necessary accessories into the bile and pancreatic duct and remove bile duct stones.
• A catheter is used to inject dye into the ducts.
• An X-ray is taken to obtain images of your pancreatic and biliary ducts.

Endoscopic Ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) uses both an endoscopy and an ultrasound to evaluate and diagnose digestive tract disorders, and together they produce detailed images of your bile duct and gallbladder. Unlike an ERCP, an EUS cannot be used to remove gallstones. However, it is an accurate diagnostic tool and presents a lower risk of complications than ERCP.

Pain, Symptoms, Problems, and More

Pain is the most common symptom of a gallbladder problem. It can be mild and intermittent or quite severe and frequent. It may begin to radiate to other areas of the body, including the back and chest.

This pain will often be accompanied by other symptoms. Read on to learn more about the gallbladder and how to identify a problem.

Your gallbladder is a 4-inch, pear-shaped organ. It’s positioned under your liver in the upper-right section of your abdomen.

The gallbladder stores bile, a combination of fluids, fat, and cholesterol. Bile helps break down fat from food in your intestine. The gallbladder delivers bile into the small intestine. This allows fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients to be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream.

Gallbladder conditions share similar symptoms. These include:

• Pain. It usually occurs in the mid to upper-right section of your abdomen.
• Nausea or vomiting. Chronic gallbladder disease may cause digestive problems, such as acid reflux and gas.
• Fever or chills. This may be a sign of infection and should be treated immediately.
• Chronic diarrhea. Defined as more than four bowel movements per day for at least 3 months.
• Jaundice. Marked by yellow-tinted skin, it may be a sign of a block or stone in the common bile duct.
• Stool abnormality. Lighter-colored stools is a possible sign of a common bile duct block.
• Discolored urine. Dark urine is a potential sign of a common bile duct block.

Any disease that affects your gallbladder is considered a gallbladder disease. The following conditions are all gallbladder diseases.

• Inflammation of the gallbladder. This is called cholecystitis. It can be either acute (short term), or chronic (long term).
• Common bile duct infection. An infection may develop if the common bile duct is obstructed.
• Gallbladder polyps. These are abnormal tissue growths that may be benign. Larger polyps may need to be surgically removed before they develop into cancer or cause other problems.
• Porcelain gallbladder. This is when calcium deposits stiffen the gallbladder walls and make them rigid.
• Gallbladder cancer. Although rare, if not detected and treated, this cancer can spread quickly.
• Gallstones. These are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder. They can cause acute cholecystitis. More on gallstones and their complications below.

Gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder. These deposits can develop and go undetected for years.

In fact, many people have gallstones and aren’t aware of them. They eventually cause problems, including inflammation, infection, and pain.

Other gallbladder problems or complications related to gallstones include:

• common bile duct stones
• abscess of the gallbladder
• gallstone ileus
• perforated gallbladder

Gallstones are usually very small, no more than a few millimeters wide. However, they can grow to several centimeters. Some people develop only one gallstone, while others develop several. As the gallstones grow in size, they can begin to block the channels that lead out of the gallbladder.

Most gallstones are formed from cholesterol found in the gallbladder’s bile. Another type of gallstone, a pigment stone, is formed from calcium bilirubinate. Calcium bilirubinate is a chemical that’s produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. This type of stone is rarer.

Explore this interactive 3-D diagram to learn more about the gallbladder and gallstones.

Common bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis)

When gallstones occur in the common bile duct, it’s known as choledocholithiasis. Bile is ejected from the gallbladder, passed through small tubes, and deposited in the common bile duct. It then enters the small intestine.

In most cases, common bile duct stones are actually gallstones that developed in the gallbladder and then passed into the bile duct. This type of stone is called a secondary common bile duct stone, or secondary stone.

Sometimes stones form in the common bile duct itself. These stones are called primary common bile duct stones, or primary stones. This rare type of stone is more likely to cause an infection than a secondary stone.

Abscess of the gallbladder

A small percentage of people with gallstones may also develop pus in the gallbladder. This condition is called empyema.

Pus is a combination of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead tissue. The development of pus, also known as an abscess, leads to severe abdominal pain. If empyema isn’t diagnosed and treated, it can become life threatening as the infection spreads to other parts of the body.

Gallstone ileus

A gallstone may travel into the intestine and block it. This condition, known as gallstone ileus, is rare but can be fatal. It’s most common among individuals who are over 65 years old.

Perforated gallbladder

If you wait too long to seek treatment, gallstones can lead to a perforated gallbladder. This is a life threatening condition. If the tear isn’t detected, a dangerous, widespread abdominal infection may develop.

Gallstones don’t cause every type of gallbladder problem. Gallbladder disease without stones, also called acalculous gallbladder disease, can occur. In this case, you may experience symptoms commonly associated with gallstones without actually having stones.

First, your doctor will talk with you about your medical history, symptoms, and family history. A physical exam is performed to locate pain in the abdomen. Your doctor may also ask about your diet and nutrition before doing a blood test.

Results from a blood test may indicate whether there’s an infection or inflammation in the gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, or even the liver.

Imaging tests are typically used to identify gallstones in your gallbladder. There are several types of image tests:

• Ultrasound. This test is considered the best imaging test for finding gallstones. Often doctors find “silent,” or gallstones that do not cause symptoms in this image test.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. This combination of X-rays and technology can show gallstones as well as reveal complications such as blockage of the gallbladder or bile ducts.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test shows detailed images of your body’s organs and can show gallstones in your biliary tract ducts.
• Cholescintigraphy. Taking pictures of the biliary tract, this image scan can show gallbladder abnormalities and blockages in the bile ducts.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This more invasive procedure is often used to address an existing problem, such as a gallstone stuck in the common bile duct.

Once your doctor has performed any necessary tests, they can then try to make a diagnosis, followed by a recommended course of treatment.

If your doctor discovers gallstones in your gallbladder, you might have gallbladder removal surgery. Although gallbladder removal surgery is safe, there are always risks with any surgery. It’s important to speak openly with your doctor about:

• the surgery
• typical recovery
• potential complications

Following removal of your gallbladder via surgery, it’s possible you may develop an infection. Pain, swelling and redness, along with pus at the incision may require antibiotics.

Bile leakage is extremely rare — only 1 percent of people who have gallbladder removal surgery experience this complication.

Injuries to the bile duct, intestine, bowel, or blood vessels are other possible complications that may require additional surgery to fix.

Gallbladder removal surgery isn’t the only way to treat a gallbladder problem. Depending on your issue and diagnosis, treatment may include:

• over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Aleve, Motrin)
• lithotripsy, a procedure that uses shock waves to break apart gallstones and other masses
• oral dissolution therapy, though it does not have a high success rate
• surgery to remove gallstones

Not all cases will require medical treatment. You may also be able to find pain relief with natural remedies, such as exercise and a heated compress.

If you’re experiencing gallbladder problems, you may find it beneficial to adjust your diet. In addition, if you have gallbladder removal surgery, your doctor may advise dietary changes both before (pre-op) and after surgery (post-op).

Foods that may aggravate gallbladder disease include:

• foods high in trans fats and other unhealthy fats
• highly processed foods
• refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and sugar

Instead, try to build your diet around:

• fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
• calcium-rich foods, such as low fat dairy and dark leafy greens
• foods containing vitamin C, such as berries
• plant-based protein, such as tofu, beans, and lentils
• healthy fats, such as nuts and fish
• coffee, which reduces your risk of gallstones and other gallbladder diseases

Symptoms of a gallbladder problem may come and go. However, you’re more likely to develop a gallbladder problem if you’ve had one before.

While gallbladder problems are rarely deadly, they should still be treated. You can prevent gallbladder problems from worsening if you take action and see a doctor. Symptoms that should prompt you to seek immediate medical attention include:

• abdominal pain that lasts at least 5 hours
• jaundice
• pale stools
• sweating, low-grade fever, or chills, if they’re accompanied by the above symptoms

The most common indication that you may be experiencing a problem with your gallbladder is pain in the mid to upper-right section of your abdomen.

Gallstones may be responsible for the pain, and depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend gallbladder removal surgery if imaging tests reveal the presence of these small, hardened deposits.

Diseases of the gallbladder – pathology, symptoms

The gallbladder is a small reservoir for bile, located on the visceral surface of the liver in the right hypochondrium. The bladder is about 10 cm long.

The main functions of bile include:

1. Fatty acid metabolism: without adequate excretion and utilization of bile, a person may have problems digesting fats and fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, K .
2. Excretion of waste products: The job of the liver is to deactivate the toxins that bile captures and removes through the digestive tract.
3. Destruction of microbial flora: Poor bile production can cause increased bacterial fermentation and an increase in small intestinal bacteria.
4. Blood sugar metabolism: bile is essential for the breakdown of fatty acids and the normalization of fat metabolism, bile receptors, FXR and TGR5 help regulate lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Pathologies of the gallbladder

The most common pathologies affecting the gallbladder are:

1. Gallstone disease (GSD). Substances contained in bile can crystallize, forming stones (calculi). Stones of small sizes do not cause serious discomfort, but with an increase in the size of a person, pain, spasms, and nausea begin to bother. Also, pain is preceded by physical activity, a deep breath. The pain syndrome in cholelithiasis begins suddenly and passes just as quickly.
2. Cholecystitis. More often, cholecystitis is the result of gallstone disease. Inflammation causes severe pain in the right hypochondrium and epigastric region, fever. Rarely, pain will spread to the entire abdomen and intensify when lying on the left side. Exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis is characterized by severe cutting pains, nausea, vomiting with bile, pallor or yellowness of the skin. With recurrence of cholecystitis, surgical treatment is indicated in conjunction with drug therapy.
3. Cancer of the gallbladder. This lesion is quite rare. It can be diagnosed in the later stages, when a vivid clinical picture appears. The symptoms of cancer are similar to those of gallstone disease.
4. Gangrene or abscess of the gallbladder.
5. Congenital defect of the gallbladder.
6. Sclerosing cholangitis (damage to the bile ducts with further development of liver failure).

Symptoms

A common symptom of gallbladder disease is pain, or biliary colic. As a rule, the patient experiences constant squeezing or cutting pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, which may radiate to the upper back. Some patients experience chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. Strengthening of the pain syndrome is observed when eating fatty foods, fried or smoked.

It is not uncommon for people with gallstones to develop inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) when stones block the bile duct. The symptoms are similar to those of cholelithiasis, but are more severe and prolonged.

Clinical presentation of cholecystitis involves pain in the upper right abdomen that may last for several days and is aggravated by inhalation. Approximately one third of patients experience vomiting, fever, chills, and nausea.

When the disease passes into the chronic stage, a scar may form on the bladder. In this case, the patient is noted for constant diarrhea, constipation or diarrhea, nausea in the morning, discomfort in the abdomen after eating.

In addition to diseases of the gallbladder, the following symptoms are present:

1. Yellowness of the skin, sclera (with blockage of the ducts).
2. Redness of the tongue (a specific symptom in pathologies of the gallbladder, liver).
3. Sensation of bitterness in the mouth.
4. Heartburn after eating.
5. Dark urine, light stools (due to lack of bile acids).
6. Tachycardia, sudden drop in blood pressure.

Symptoms that persist for a long time and are not relieved by drugs are a reason to consult a gastroenterologist. Timely and thorough differential diagnosis will help to accurately determine the cause of discomfort and draw up the correct treatment regimen.

Author

Borisova Anna Leonidovna

gastroenterologist

Experience 17 years

+7 (495) 032-15-21

Inflammation of the gallbladder – symptoms, causes and treatment of inflammation of the gallbladder

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How to recognize inflammation of the gallbladder, symptoms of cholecystitis

August 07, 2019

Cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, is an inflammatory disease that is accompanied by motor-tonic dysfunction of both the gallbladder and the biliary tract.

According to statistics, cholecystitis is diagnosed in approximately 10% of men and 25% of women over 45 years of age. Depending on the course of the disease, acute and chronic cholecystitis are distinguished, and on the nature of inflammation – calculous, phlegmonous, gangrenous.

Calculous cholecystitis accounts for approximately 75-95% of all cases and develops mainly against the background of cholelithiasis. Therefore, it is not strange that cholecystitis is more common in people over 45 years of age.

With cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), symptoms may be absent for a long time, or be mild in the initial stages. This is the reason for untimely diagnosis and chronicity of the inflammatory process.

In addition, the long course of cholecystitis, if left untreated, can lead to many undesirable consequences – cholangitis, pleurisy, pancreatitis, pneumonia, perivesical abscess, diffuse peritonitis, sepsis. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the symptoms of cholecystitis in time.

Further in the article we will describe in more detail what symptoms are characteristic of inflammation of the gallbladder, for what reasons the disease occurs, and what methods of its treatment exist.

Causes of inflammation of the gallbladder

Why does inflammation of the gallbladder occur? The causes, as mentioned above, in most cases are associated with gallstone disease, that is, with the formation of stones in the gallbladder.

But there are other causes of inflammation of the gallbladder, for example:

• Insufficient emptying of the gallbladder, caused by impaired motility and tone of the biliary tract, leads to stone formation and the development of an inflammatory process.
• Anomalies of the gallbladder from birth.
• Other diseases of the biliary system, for example, tumors, cysts of the gallbladder and duct, dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi.

In addition, there are additional causes of inflammation of the gallbladder, namely:

• Dyscholia
• Hormonal disorders
• Pancreatobiliary reflux
• Incorrect, irregular nutrition
• Bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Hereditary dyslipidemia.

Symptoms of inflammation of the gallbladder

How to recognize inflammation of the gallbladder? Signs of cholecystitis may be absent for a long time. That is why chronic cholecystitis is more common, which has an undulating course, when the signs of inflammation of the gallbladder either become aggravated or subside.

Symptoms of inflammation of the gallbladder in the acute process and in the chronic during the period of exacerbation may include the following:

• Severe paroxysmal pain in the right hypochondrium, which can radiate to the right shoulder, shoulder blade, neck. The pain is aggravated by the use of smoked, fatty, fried, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, coffee, with irregular meals, fasting, as well as during physical exertion, severe stress.
• General weakness, malaise, sleep disturbance.
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting with an admixture of bile, bitterness in the mouth (especially in the morning), belching.
• Disorders of the stool, bloating.
• Increase in body temperature to subfebrile numbers, chills.
• Symptoms of inflammation of the gallbladder in the calculous form also include pruritus, icterus of the skin and sclera.

In the remission phase, symptoms are either absent or mild. Sometimes there may be nausea, discomfort, or aching pain in the right hypochondrium, stool disorders.

How to treat inflammation of the gallbladder? Basic treatments

How to treat inflammation of the gallbladder? Treatment of cholecystitis should be complex. The choice of treatment method depends on the nature of the inflammatory process, the severity of the disease, and the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of inflammation of the gallbladder primarily involves diet.

Excluded from the diet:

• fat
• fried
• spicy food
• smoked meats
• pickled products
• legumes
• mushrooms
• coffee
• alcohol

You should eat in small portions 5-6 times a day.

In addition, with inflammation of the gallbladder, treatment involves medication. The most commonly prescribed are antispasmodic, analgesic drugs, choleretics and cholekinetics. Conservative treatment of inflammation of the gallbladder also includes physiotherapy, electrophoresis, UHF.

With the ineffectiveness of conservative methods of treatment, in the case of severe forms of cholecystitis, with calculous cholecystitis, surgical treatment may be indicated – removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy.

Traditional medicine methods are also widely popular. But before you treat inflammation of the gallbladder with folk recipes, you should definitely consult with your doctor!

How and how to relieve inflammation of the gallbladder at home

Cholecystitis often takes the form of an attack – with acute, paroxysmal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting.

How to relieve inflammation of the gallbladder at home? Before removing the inflammation of the gallbladder, you should calm the patient, put him on the bed, if necessary, call an ambulance.