Why is there nothing wrong with the B-ultrasound for cholecystitis?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

As for why cholecystitis appears normal in an ultrasound, there are two possible reasons. One possibility is that the medical practitioner conducting the ultrasound may lack sufficient clinical experience to identify an inflamed gallbladder. Another reason could be limitations in the ultrasound equipment itself, which might fail to detect an inflamed gallbladder. There are very few cases where cholecystitis appears normal under ultrasound. The main ultrasound features of cholecystitis include gallbladder wall edema, roughness, and an enlarged gallbladder among other radiological changes. Once cholecystitis is diagnosed, it is crucial to undertake active treatment measures, such as aggressive anti-infection treatment, spasmodic pain relief, etc.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 8sec home-news-image

Is rib pain gallblitis?

The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, at the intersection of the midpoint of the right costal margin and the costal arch, near the midclavicular line. If there is tenderness in this area, it indicates a positive Murphy's sign. Usually, an ultrasound can reveal whether there is gallbladder wall thickening or a rough surface. Additionally, the ultrasound can detect gallstones or bile duct stones. Furthermore, a complete blood count should be performed to check for elevated white blood cells, which could indicate acute suppurative cholangitis. This condition may present with fever, positive Murphy's sign, Charcot's triad or pentad, and all require ultrasound for differentiation. Rib pain is mostly related to trauma, strain, or localized pressure during sleep, such as from a pillow corner, ashtray, or remote control. It can also be associated with costochondritis or intercostal neuralgia, and breathing heavily or coughing may cause pain. To confirm a diagnosis of cholecystitis, an ultrasound and a complete blood count should be performed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ya Juan
Gastroenterology
3min 8sec home-news-image

Symptoms and Treatment of Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is divided into acute cholecystitis and chronic cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis typically presents very typical and obvious clinical symptoms, primarily manifesting as acute abdominal pain. Acute cholecystitis often occurs after eating greasy food, mainly presenting as severe colicky pain in the upper right abdomen, which is episodic and worsens. The pain may radiate to the right shoulder or back, followed by nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, fever. Some severe cases may also present with jaundice and symptoms of systemic infection and toxicity. Acute simple cholecystitis is often treated non-surgically, and most cases can be cured. If the patient has a history of multiple attacks or the presence of stones, elective cholecystectomy is usually performed later. For suppurative or gangrenous cholecystitis, surgery should be performed promptly after appropriate preparation to remove the diseased gallbladder, typically within three days of onset. If the patient's condition is critical at the time of surgery, or if there is severe local infection and the anatomy is unclear, the doctor will not forcibly remove the gallbladder to avoid major bleeding and damage. Instead, a cholecystostomy may be performed first, followed by cholecystectomy after three months. Chronic cholecystitis, besides occasional upper abdominal discomfort and indigestion, usually shows no prominent symptoms, and most patients only learn about their condition through ultrasound examination. However, for recurrent acute attacks or symptomatic chronic cholecystitis, especially those with stones larger than 1 cm or multiple stones, cholecystectomy should be performed. Elderly or frail individuals with other serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease, may receive medical treatment, including general digestive aids and antispasmodic medications. Bile preparations have choleretic effects, can increase the secretion of bile, promote the digestion and absorption of fats, and facilitate the excretion from the gallbladder, which can alleviate symptoms and stabilize the condition. Considering that acute attacks of chronic cholecystitis in elderly people progress rapidly and that emergency surgery has a much higher mortality rate than elective surgery, it is advisable to perform surgery during a remission period. Whether treated with medication or surgery, it is important to follow medical advice.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
55sec home-news-image

Can you drink water with acute cholecystitis?

Whether patients with acute cholecystitis can drink water mainly depends on the course of the disease. In the early stages of acute cholecystitis, patients may experience digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension. At this time, they should not drink water; instead, they require fasting and gastrointestinal decompression to better control the condition, especially to prevent the occurrence of intestinal obstruction. After antibiotic treatment and control of the inflammation, once the gastrointestinal function is fully restored, patients can then drink water, but only in small amounts. For patients with acute cholecystitis, if symptoms do not improve after conservative treatment, it may even be necessary to surgically remove the gallbladder to achieve a definitive cure. The primary method is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which can effectively treat the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
52sec home-news-image

Is surgery necessary for cholecystitis with gallstones?

Gallstone cholecystitis primarily has several treatment methods, targeted towards symptomatic and asymptomatic treatments. These include medical treatment and surgical treatment. Not all cases of cholecystitis require surgery. For some asymptomatic gallbladder stones, treatments can be managed through dietary therapy, symptomatic treatment, and preventive treatment for those at high risk, including dietary adjustments or treatments that promote bile flow. Preventive gallbladder removal may be considered for those at high risk of gallbladder cancer. For symptomatic cases, the main goal is to control symptoms and primarily reduce inflammation. For chronic cholecystitis and gallstones, if there is no significant improvement with medical treatment, then surgical treatment may be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
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.