Causes and Risks:

Chronic cholecystitis is caused by repeated mild attacks of acute cholecystitis, leading to thickening of the walls of the gallbladder and shrinking of the gallbladder. The gallbladder eventually loses the ability to concentrate and store bile. Eating fatty food may aggravate the symptoms. The disease occurs more often in women than in men, and the incidence increases after the age of 40. Risk factors are a previous history of acute cholecystitis.

Prevention:

The condition is not always preventable. People who have had an attack of acute cholecystitis but have not had their gallbladder removed should reduce the intake of fatty food. Weight reduction may also be beneficial for these people.

Symptoms:

• Chronic indigestion
• Vague abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Belching

Signs and Tests:

Tests that reveal inflammation or gallstones in the gallbladder:

• Abdominal CT scan
• Oral cholecystogram
• Abdominal ultrasound

Treatment:

Surgery is the usual treatment. Cholecystectomy can be performed as an open or laparoscopic procedure. For patients who are poor surgical risks because of other diseases or conditions, the symptoms of chronic indigestion can be managed by low fat diets and weight reduction. Antacids and anticholinergic medications may also be helpful.

Prognosis:

The death rate is low for cholecystectomy. Cholecystectomy may not relieve the symptoms of chronic indigestion if it occurs from another cause.

Complications:

Gallstones with chronic inflammation of the gallbladder can result in a worsening of the condition, pancreatitis, or (rarely) cancer of the gallbladder.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms occur that are suggestive of chronic cholecystitis.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop.