Choleocystitis

[CandE25]

disease overview.. .is it the cholesterol is the main cause of this disease?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

disease overview.. .is it the cholesterol is the main cause of this disease?

Do you mean cholecystitis? If so, it's not the cholesterol, it's an inflammation of the gall bladder, caused by gall stones. They block the common bile duct, impeding the flow of bile.

Treatments can include change of diet and meds, a balloon sweep for stones, stone removal, and/or gall bladder removal. Depends on the situation.

[Scrubby]

disease overview.. .is it the cholesterol is the main cause of this disease?

Cholesterol does contribute to the disease because gallstones are formed from cholestrol but it's not really clear why they actually form in the first place. The risk factors are female, white race, middle age, hormone therapy, pregnancy and existing disease of the gallbladder.

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

Cholecystitis cab be caused by a gallstone in the cystic duct but there are other causes such as an infection of the bile duct, a tumor of the pancreas, a decreased blood supply to the GB which is not too uncommon amoung diabetics, and gallbladder sludge. Cholecystitis caused by sludge is is seen in pregnant women or people who have had a rapid weight loss. The sludge cannot be absorbed by the bile and collects in the GB causing the GB to become very sluggish.

Cholecystitis is diagnosed usually by ultrasound but if the US is negative and the symptoms continue the doctor will order a hida scan (Nuclear Medicine) to see if the GB is contracting as usual. If not, out it comes.

A diet high in cholesterol does not cause GB problems but does greatly cause pain and exacerbation of cholecystitis because the compromised GB can no longer secrete the bile to process it.

I did a paper in NS on cholecystitis

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Cholecystitis from eMedicine