Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. Cholecystitis is usually caused by a gallstone in the cystic duct, the duct that connects the gallbladder to the hepatic duct. Infection or trauma, such as an injury from a car accident, can also cause cholecystitis. There are two types of cholecystitis. Acute acalculous cholecystitis, though rare, is most often seen in critically ill people in hospital intensive care units. Complications from another severe illness, such as HIV or diabetes, cause the swelling. Long-term (chronic) cholecystitis is another form of cholecystitis. It occurs when the gallbladder remains swollen over time.



It causing the walls of the gallbladder to become thick and hard. The gallbladder usually contains sludge , or gallstones that either block its opening into the cystic duct or reside in the cystic duct itself. Cholecystitis usually presents as a pain in the right upper quadrant. This is usually a constant, severe pain. More severe symptoms such as high fever, shock and jaundice indicate the development of complications such as abscess formation, perforation or ascending cholangitis. Fever occurs in about one third of people with acute cholecystitis. The fever tends to rise gradually to above 100.4° F (38° C) and may be accompanied by chills.

Fever rarely occurs in people with chronic cholecystitis. Another complication, gallstone ileus, occurs if the gallbladder perforates and forms a fistula with the nearby small bowel, leading to symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The symptoms of cholecystitis may resemble other medical conditions or problems. The incidence of cholecystitis increases with age. The physiologic explanation for the increasing incidence of gallstone disease in the elderly population is unclear. The increased incidence in elderly men has been linked to changing androgen-to-estrogen ratios. People with acute or chronic cholecystitis need to be hospitalized.

Antibiotics are usually administered to reduce the inflammation and/or fight the infection. Sometimes, the gallbladder is surgically removed. 'Key-hole' surgery is now the most common way to remove a gallbladder. This operation only needs small cuts in the abdomen with small scars remaining afterwards. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be necessary to determine if the cause of pain is increased pressure. Prevention of cholecystitis is probably best attempted by maintaining a reasonably ideal weight. Eating a diet high in fiber, vegetables, and fruit is also protective.