The gallbladder is a small sac located below the liver in the upper right portion of the abdomen. Gallbladder stores bile, which is a digestive fluid that helps the body digest fats. The liver makes bile and then sends it to the gallbladder where it is stored until the body needs to use it. Bile exits the gallbladder through a tube called the common bile duct and is deposited into the small intestine. If a gallstone forms and blocks the opening of the common bile duct, it can result in cholecystitis.
Formation of Gallstones
Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form in the gallbladder if the bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts or bilirubin, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The substances in the bile harden to form gallstones, but the cause is not completely understood. The most common type of gallstone is a cholesterol gallstone, which forms when cholesterol in the bile hardens. The other type of gallstone is called a pigment gallstone. Pigment gallstones are composed of bilirubin.
Development of Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the gallbladder. When a gallstone travels into the common bile duct, it can cause a partial or complete blockage. When the common bile duct is blocked, bile cannot flow through it freely. This results in the buildup of bile in the gallbladder. The accumulation of gallbladder causes the inflammation associated with cholecystitis. According to Medline Plus, 90 percent of cholecystitis cases are caused by gallstones.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of cholecystitis is a severe pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen. MayoClinic.com notes that this pain may persist for several hours or days and is exacerbated by breathing. Other symptoms include tenderness in the abdomen, pain in the back, increased perspiration, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, chills and abdominal bloating.
Treatment
Some cases of cholecystitis clear up on their own, however, most cases of cholecystitis are recurrent. The only way to treat recurrent cholecystitis is through the surgical removal of the gallbladder. This procedure is called a cholecystectomy. When the gallbladder is removed, bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine.
Complications
Cholecystitis often causes an infection inside of the gallbladder. If the bile accumulates to such a degree that it causes the gallbladder to tear, the bile can travel and spread the infection to other parts of the body as well. Untreated cholecystitis can also result in tissue death.
