Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder (McCance & Huether, 2014). The common cause of cholecystitis is obstruction by

These symptoms are consistent with a gallbladder attack, or cholecystitis. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder (McCance & Huether, 2014). The common cause of cholecystitis is obstruction by gallstones (cholelithiasis). Patients can go years without concern because cholelithiasis often does not present with symptoms. A patient may have gallstones, but it is when they cause an obstruction and inflammation that the symptoms occur. Gallstones are small, hard structures formed by the presence of biliary sludge, composed of calcium deposits, cholesterol crystals, and glycoproteins (Afamefuna & Allen, 2013). Altered hepatic cholesterol metabolism causes hypersecretion, causing cholesterol concentration greater than solubility. Gallstones can also be caused by loss of muscular wall motility, leading to bile stasis and gallstone formation. Cholecystitis is commonly a result of obstruction from gallstones, but gallstones are not always present. It can also be caused by microorganisms. Cholecystitis can be acute or chronic. Repeated inflammation of the gallbladder can lead to chronic cholecystitis (Afamefuna & Allen, 2013). Failure to treat cholecystitis can lead to sepsis or perforation, which can be life threatening (Afamefuna & Allen, 2013)