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Acute cholecystitis is the sudden inflammation of the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. The gallbladder's role is to store and concentrate bile, a fluid needed to help the body digest fats.
read more about acute cholecystitis ...The cause is the obstruction of the cystic duct (the gallbladder's drainage tube) by gallstones. The blockage traps bile inside the gallbladder, causing pressure, swelling, and inflammation. Risk factors include being female, age over 40, obesity, and rapid weight loss.
Symptoms usually involve sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen that can extend to the right shoulder or back. The pain often appears after eating fatty or greasy foods and tends to persist for several hours. Fever, nausea, vomiting, and tenderness over the abdomen are common. Some people experience bloating, loss of appetite, or mild jaundice if bile flow becomes obstructed. The pain and discomfort can worsen with deep breathing or movement, prompting many to seek urgent medical attention.
Treatment usually involves supportive care (pain medication and IV fluids) followed by surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Removal is typically performed urgently, as delayed treatment risks complications like gallbladder rupture.
This condition does not directly cause vision problems. However, severe or prolonged blockage can lead to jaundice, where bile pigments accumulate in the blood. Jaundice causes the skin and, most noticeably, the sclera (whites of the eyes) to turn yellow. This yellowing is a visual sign of liver or bile duct issues.
Potential complications include gallbladder rupture, formation of a local abscess, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) if the gallstone blocks the pancreatic duct. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are necessary to prevent these severe outcomes.
Surgery (cholecystectomy) is the standard and most common treatment to prevent recurrence and complications.
The liver still produces bile. Digestion continues normally, though some people may experience mild diarrhea after eating fatty foods.
No, the gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, while the appendix is located in the lower right abdomen.
Seek emergency care for "biliary colic", severe pain in the upper right abdomen that radiates to the shoulder. If left untreated, acute cholecystitis can lead to gallbladder gangrene or perforation, which are life-threatening emergencies.
Mayo Clinic. Cholecystitis Symptoms (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
MedlinePlus. Gallbladder Inflammation (medlineplus.gov). 2025.
JAMA. Acute Cholecystitis Review (jamanetwork.com). 2022.
BMJ Best Practice. Acute Cholecystitis (bestpractice.bmj.com). 2025.