an ultrasound scan of your abdomen to check for gallstones or other signs of a problem with your gallbladder.blood tests to check for signs of inflammation in your body.If your symptoms suggest you have acute cholecystitis, your GP will refer you to hospital immediately for further tests and treatment. Your gallbladder will move downwards as your breathe in and, if you have cholecystitis, you will experience sudden pain as your gallbladder reaches your doctor’s hand. You will be asked to breathe in deeply with your GP's hand pressed on your tummy, just below your rib cage. They will probably carry out a simple test called Murphy’s sign. To diagnose acute cholecystitis, your GP will examine your abdomen. These don't usually cause any symptoms, but in a small proportion of people they can cause infrequent episodes of pain (known as biliary colic) or acute cholecystitis. It is estimated that around 10-15% of adults in the UK have gallstones. Who is affectedĪcute cholecystitis is a relatively common complication of gallstones. It usually develops as a complication of a serious illness, infection or injury that damages the gallbladder.Īcalculous cholecystitis is often associated with problems such as accidental damage to the gallbladder during major surgery, serious injuries or burns, blood poisoning (sepsis), severe malnutrition or AIDS. Acalculous cholecystitisĪcalculous cholecystitis is a less common, but usually more serious, type of acute cholecystitis. In around 1 in every 5 cases, the inflamed gallbladder also becomes infected by bacteria. The blockage in the cystic duct results in a build-up of bile in the gallbladder, increasing the pressure inside it and causing it to become inflamed. It accounts for around 95% of all cases.Ĭalculous cholecystitis develops when the main opening to the gallbladder, called the cystic duct, gets blocked by a gallstone or by a substance known as biliary sludge.īiliary sludge is a mixture of bile (a liquid produced by the liver that helps digest fats) and small crystals of cholesterol and salt.
Calculous cholecystitisĬalculous cholecystitis is the most common, and usually less serious, type of acute cholecystitis. The causes of acute cholecystitis can be grouped into 2 main categories: calculous cholecystitis and acalculous cholecystitis. It's important for acute cholecystitis to be diagnosed as soon as possible, because there is a risk that serious complications could develop if the condition is not treated promptly (see below). If it's not possible to contact your GP immediately, phone your local out-of-hours service or call the NHS 24 111 service for advice. You should see your GP as soon as possible if you develop sudden and severe abdominal pain, particularly if the pain lasts longer than a few hours or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as jaundice and a fever.
Symptoms of gallbladder issues skin#
Some people may additional symptoms, such as: Unlike some others types of abdominal pain, the pain associated with acute cholecystitis is usually persistent, and doesn't go away within a few hours. The affected part of the abdomen is usually extremely tender, and breathing deeply can make the pain worse.
The main symptom of acute cholecystitis is a sudden sharp pain in the upper right side of your tummy (abdomen) that spreads towards your right shoulder. It is a potentially serious condition that usually needs to be treated in hospital. Acute cholecystitis is swelling (inflammation) of the gallbladder.
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