What is cholecystitis?
The gallbladder is an anatomical structure that stores an important fluid that is essential for the well-functioning of the intestines and the digestion of lipids (fats). This substance is bile. Cholecystitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the gallbladder, often accompanied by pain in the right hypochondrium and nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and others.
The disease occurs in different age categories. Most often, it affects women between the ages of 40-50 years.
Why does cholecystitis occur?
Inflammation of the walls of the gallbladder can be provoked by numerous factors, the most common are:
A risk for cholecystitis increases in case of family history with this disease. It is also necessary to be attentive to persons with congenital anomalies in the development and shape of the gallbladder and / or bile ducts.
Forms of cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is quite diverse according to the clinical picture and classification. Variations of the symptoms and forms are broad: from a low-symptom manifestation, to a critical condition, that requires urgent hospitalization and urgent surgical intervention.
Cholecystitis is divided into:
There are several stages of cholecystitis:
Depending on the presence of stones (calculi) in the gallbladder, cholecystitis is divided into:
Cholecystitis symptoms
Symptoms can be intermittent. Often there are periods of exacerbation and remission. The most common are:
It is worth paying attention to the "color" symptoms:
Diagnostic methods for cholecystitis
Diagnosis of gallbladder inflammation requires a doctor's examination, a physical examination and additional diagnostic methods.
Analysis of the patient's data, present symptoms, heredity, lifestyle factors is an extremely important stage in the diagnosis. The specialist highlights the key points and prescribes diagnostic tests depending on the suspected form of the disease.
Diagnostics may include:
Cholecystitis treatment methods
The way the patient is managed depends on many factors. The method of treatment depends on the severity, type, and presence of stones. Only a qualified doctor can compose this puzzle and choose the necessary tactics.
Methods for treating inflammation of the gallbladder are divided into:
Conservative treatment includes changes in diet, lifestyle, and the drug therapy that will improve the patient's condition.
The diet requires the exclusion of fried and fatty foods, spicy, overly salty or sugary foods and drinks. It is recommended to consume more vegetables and fruits, poultry and seafood. You should give preference to simple still purified water.
Medications are prescribed by the doctor after an appointment in the clinic. Only a specialist can correctly determine the cause of the painful condition, carry out differential diagnostics and provide the patient with the necessary advice on the drug management of cholecystitis.
Surgical treatment includes an operation to remove the gallbladder - cholecystectomy. The operation can be planned or urgent (emergency), depending on the indications and the patient's condition. Interventions can be via laparotomy (access to the affected area through a large incision in the anterior abdominal wall) and laparoscopic (minimally invasive technique, which involves small incisions and the use of optical equipment). After the operation, it is also necessary to follow the diet therapy and medications recommended by the doctor.
Prevention of cholecystitis
Preventive measures regarding inflammation of the gallbladder will include two main directions: prevention of stagnation of bile in the bladder, treatment of infections and invasions.
The important components are:
UNIVERSUM.CLINIC doctors who treat the disease
Our clinic provides treatment according to modern international standards. UNIVERSUM.CLINIC specialists are professionals who constantly provide high-quality medical care for each patient.
For the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of cholecystitis, you can consult the following doctors: