Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)

Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) is a condition that causes irritation and swelling in the gallbladder. This small, pear-shaped organ, located in your upper right abdomen under your liver, holds fluid (bile) that digests food. Normally bile drains out of the gallbladder and into the small intestine. If a gallstone blocks the bile duct, the bile builds up in the gallbladder causing inflammation and infection.

Cholecystitis is treated by gastroenterologists, doctors who focus on the digestive system. At Penn Medicine, our biliary and pancreatic disease care specialists evaluate and treat gallbladder stones, bile duct blockages, and infections that can lead to cholecystitis.

The most common cause of both acute and chronic cholecystitis is gallstones blocking the bile duct.

Other causes include:

• Serious illnesses like Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• Viral infections
• Bile duct stricture
• Bile duct blockage
• Reduced blood flow to the gallbladder
• Tumors that block the gallbladder

Cholecystitis can be a serious condition and may require treatment in a hospital, especially when symptoms come on suddenly. Care often begins with IV fluids and pain relief. If there are signs of infection, antibiotics may be added. Your provider may also drain the gallbladder to relieve pressure or use the ERCP procedure to remove a stone blocking a bile duct. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gallbladder, particularly for repeated attacks or severe inflammation.