Which department should I go to for cholecystitis?

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Firstly, it is necessary to determine the cause of the cholecystitis. The most common type of cholecystitis is caused by gallstones. If the cholecystitis is an acute episode caused by gallstones, leading to pain, nausea, vomiting, or even high fever, surgical intervention is usually indicated. It is generally recommended to consult with departments such as general surgery or hepatobiliary surgery, as emergency surgery may be needed. The second scenario involves cases where cholecystitis is detected during routine physical examinations without symptoms. Ultrasound may show gallstones or gallbladder polyps. In symptom-free situations, it is possible to consult general departments like gastroenterology, and regular follow-ups and checks of inflammation indicators, as well as abdominal ultrasonography, can be performed to monitor the dynamic changes of the cholecystitis. The third scenario pertains to cholecystitis where new techniques such as MRCP are available. With this technology, gallstones can be removed under endoscopic guidance. Generally, these procedures are performed in the gastroenterology department. Thus, for acute cholecystitis with choledocholithiasis and concurrent biliary pancreatitis, it may be treated with endoscopic techniques under gastroenterology, avoiding the need for traditional or minimally invasive surgery. Therefore, patients with cholecystitis may visit either the hepatobiliary surgery or gastroenterology departments.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
1min 45sec home-news-image

Which department should I go to for cholecystitis?

Firstly, it is necessary to determine the cause of the cholecystitis. The most common type of cholecystitis is caused by gallstones. If the cholecystitis is an acute episode caused by gallstones, leading to pain, nausea, vomiting, or even high fever, surgical intervention is usually indicated. It is generally recommended to consult with departments such as general surgery or hepatobiliary surgery, as emergency surgery may be needed. The second scenario involves cases where cholecystitis is detected during routine physical examinations without symptoms. Ultrasound may show gallstones or gallbladder polyps. In symptom-free situations, it is possible to consult general departments like gastroenterology, and regular follow-ups and checks of inflammation indicators, as well as abdominal ultrasonography, can be performed to monitor the dynamic changes of the cholecystitis. The third scenario pertains to cholecystitis where new techniques such as MRCP are available. With this technology, gallstones can be removed under endoscopic guidance. Generally, these procedures are performed in the gastroenterology department. Thus, for acute cholecystitis with choledocholithiasis and concurrent biliary pancreatitis, it may be treated with endoscopic techniques under gastroenterology, avoiding the need for traditional or minimally invasive surgery. Therefore, patients with cholecystitis may visit either the hepatobiliary surgery or gastroenterology departments.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
52sec home-news-image

Do you need to fast and hold your urine for a gallbladder inflammation B-ultrasound?

When undergoing an ultrasound for cholecystitis, fasting is required, but there is no need to hold urine. However, if the examination involves the adnexa of the uterus, bladder, prostate, and other areas, it requires holding urine to perform the test, allowing the prostate, adnexa, etc., to sufficiently distend. This helps in more clearly observing pathological changes. Patients with cholecystitis need to fast before an ultrasound. If food is consumed before the scan, the gallbladder contracts more quickly, making it difficult to accurately identify lesions. Patients with cholecystitis may experience chills, fever, right upper abdominal pain, jaundice, yellowing skin, dark urine, etc. In severe cases, patients may develop septic shock and require active treatment measures.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Is cholecystitis hereditary?

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, which is related to dietary habits in our daily lives. For example, people who particularly enjoy oily foods, or generally eat in large quantities, or have irregular eating habits, such as those who often skip breakfast and eat meals inconsistently, are prone to developing cholecystitis. If we consider cholecystitis on its own, it actually does not have a genetic predisposition. However, cholecystitis is often seen in individuals who are obese and have irregular lifestyles, and such traits can typically be related to family habits. For instance, if parents and grandparents are overweight, their children are also likely to be overweight. Similarly, if one's lifestyle is irregular, characterized by inconsistent meals, it might be a reflection of the family's general irregular lifestyle. Therefore, children of parents who suffer from cholecystitis are also more likely to suffer from the condition, not due to genetics, but due to their body type, dietary habits, and family lifestyle practices.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
41sec home-news-image

How to deal with nausea and the urge to vomit from cholecystitis?

Nausea and vomiting caused by cholecystitis should be treated with medications according to individual clinical symptoms. At the same time, it is important to make a correct judgment based on the cause of the disease. If cholecystitis is caused by overeating, medications that aid digestion should be used first to alleviate symptoms. If a bacterial infection is confirmed, antibiotics should also be used to reduce inflammation and treat the condition symptomatically. Patients with cholecystitis should maintain a light diet, avoid overeating and greasy food, and should quit smoking and drinking alcohol, maintaining a structured lifestyle.

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Written by Xie Zheng Yuan
Gastroenterology
50sec home-news-image

Symptoms of acute cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis is a relatively common digestive system disease in clinical practice, often triggered by the presence of gallstones, leading to acute inflammation of the gallbladder. When an acute cholecystitis attack occurs, it typically presents as pain in the upper right abdomen, accompanied by fever, and sometimes nausea and vomiting, similar to symptoms of gastric discomfort. Additionally, if a gallstone falls and lodges in the cystic duct, or even in the common bile duct, it can cause jaundice, as indicated by the yellowing of the skin and sclera. During a physical examination, it might be possible to detect tenderness in the upper right abdomen, or even rebound tenderness. Another possible positive sign could be Murphy's sign, which are all common manifestations of acute cholecystitis.