Harrison's Practice: Acute Cholecystitis

Acute Cholecystitis

Definition

Acute inflammation of the gallbladder wall caused by a mechanical, chemical, or bacterial process
Important causes of cholecystitis:
- Calculous cholecystitis (~90% of cases)
  - Inflammation caused by obstruction of the cystic duct by stone(s)
- Acalculous cholecystitis (~10% of cases)
  - Inflammation of the gallbladder in the absence of demonstrated calculi
- Acalculous cholecystopathy
  - Disordered motility of the gallbladder that produces recurrent biliary pain in patients without gallstones
- Emphysematous cholecystitis
  - Begins with acute cholecystitis (calculous or acalculous), followed by ischemia or gangrene of the gallbladder wall and infection by gas-producing organisms
The term cholecystitis is used only when inflammation of the gallbladder is present.
- Cholelithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the gallbladder and does not necessarily imply accompanying inflammation.
- Choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the common bile duct (CBD).
- Cholangitis refers to inflammation of a bile duct.

Acute Cholecystitis has been found in Harrison's Practice

If you are a registered user, please login below.

If not, learn more about gaining full access.

Login: User Name:

Password:

Forgot your password?
Forgot your username?
Remember Me

Try

Harrison's Practice delivers essential point-of-care information on the diagnosis and management of over 800 medical conditions. Continuously updated and available for desktop and mobile devices.

View these topics online FREE!