Cholecystitis (Gallbladder Inflammation)

What it is

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most often caused by a gallstone blocking the outflow of bile. The pain occurs on the right side of the abdomen, below the ribs, is intense and continuous, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever, and tends to worsen after fatty meals. Without treatment, the inflammation can progress to infection, perforation and other complications. Women are more affected, especially after pregnancy and between the ages of 40 and 60. At Femi Saúde, the general surgery team, with Dr. Henrique Stachon, evaluates the patient quickly, confirms the diagnosis by ultrasound, and performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with small incisions and a more comfortable recovery.

Most common symptoms

• Intense pain on the right side of the abdomen
• Pain radiating to the back or shoulder
• Frequent nausea and vomiting
• Fever, chills and malaise
• Worsening pain after eating fatty food
• Tenderness when pressing below the ribs
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Causes and risk factors

• Gallstones blocking the gallbladder
• Biliary sludge and thickened bile
• Prolonged fasting or rapid weight loss
• Infections and severe illness (acalculous cholecystitis)
• Pregnancy and hormone use

How it is diagnosed

The surgeon evaluates the history of the pain, associated symptoms, and the physical exam, in which tenderness below the ribs during inspiration is a characteristic sign. Abdominal ultrasound is the exam of choice: it shows gallstones, thickening of the gallbladder wall, and surrounding fluid. Blood tests assess signs of infection, liver function, and possible obstruction of the bile ducts. When there is doubt or suspicion of a stone in the bile duct, MR cholangiography or a CT scan complement the investigation.

How we treat it at Femi Saúde

Acute cholecystitis is treated with fasting, hydration, pain relief and antibiotics, followed by cholecystectomy, removal of the gallbladder, preferably within the first 72 hours of symptoms. Whenever possible, the general surgery team at Femi Saúde performs the procedure laparoscopically, with three or four small incisions, discharge generally the following day, and a gradual return to activities within one to two weeks. In cases of very intense inflammation or high surgical risk, gallbladder drainage may serve as an intermediate step. After surgery, digestion adapts well to the absence of the gallbladder, with simple dietary guidance.

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