The gallbladder is a small organ located under the liver that is responsible for storing bile and releasing it through a tube called a bile duct. Gallbladder problems usually arise when the bile duct is blocked and bile accumulates in the liver, but can occur as a result of other traumas or conditions as well.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. The condition is usually caused when gallstones block the flow of bile through the bile duct. Other causes of cholecystitis include injury, infection or a tumor. Cholecystitis can be acute, which means that it develops suddenly, or chronic, which means that it develops gradually over time. The most common symptom of cholecystitis is severe pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. The pain may last days, and increases during breathing. Other symptoms include abdominal tenderness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, chills and abdominal bloating. Symptoms of cholecystitis are the most severe immediately after a meal.
Gallstones
Gallstones are small, hard substances that develop in the gallbladder. There are two types of gallstones—cholesterol gallstones and pigment gallstones. Cholesterol gallstones occur as a result of too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin or inadequate bile salts in the bile. Pigment gallstones usually occur as a result of too much bilirubin in the bile. Gallstones range in size and can be found in small or large amounts in the gallbladder. If a gallstone travels to the bile duct, it can result in the formation of cholecystitis. Common symptoms of gallstones include steady pain in the right upper abdomen, pain in the back between the shoulder blades and pain under the right shoulder, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Severe symptoms of gallstones include pain lasting longer than five hours, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, jaundice and abnormal colored stools. If any of these symptoms are present, a doctor should be contacted immediately.
Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis
Acute acalculous cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder that does not occur as a result of gallstones. The cause of this condition is believed to be an injury to the wall of the gallbladder combined with a chemical injury caused by the bile acids, according to Cleveland Clinic. Acute acalculous cholecystitis is often associated with those who have been hospitalized for severe trauma or sepsis and those with vascular disease and certain immune disorders. Symptoms of acute acalculous cholecystitis include pain in the upper, right part of the abdomen, fever, abdominal bloating and pain during breathing.
