Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gall bladder. (A cyst is a fluid filled sack, -itis means inflammation, so cholecystitis is inflammation of a cyst containing bile). By far the commonest cause is gallstones. The symptoms of pain in the upper right part of the abdomen associated with nausea and vomiting may be precipitated by eating fatty foods (because this makes the gall bladder contract) may be severe and recurrent. Treatment of the acute episode requires pain relief, agents to ease the nausea and vomiting and possibly antibiotics to prevent the development of complications such as cholangitis or empyema, where the gall bladder becomes full of pus. Definitive treatment may involve surgery.
 
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