Patient Education

Patient-friendly information sheets with lifestyle advice, diet, and emergency guidance

Acute Cholecystitis

Patient Information Sheet

Severity: urgent

Understanding Your Condition

Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by gallstones blocking the bile duct. Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the standard treatment and is very safe.

Common Symptoms

RUQ pain > 8 hours (distinguishes from biliary colic)

Positive Murphy's sign

Fever, nausea, vomiting

Pain following food intake, often begins at night

Leukocytosis with left shift

Lifestyle Recommendations

Maintain healthy weight
Avoid rapid weight loss (> 1.5 kg/week)
Regular physical activity

Dietary Advice

Low-fat diet until surgery
Avoid fried foods, fatty meats, full-fat dairy
Small, frequent meals
After cholecystectomy: gradually reintroduce normal diet over 2-4 weeks

When to Seek Emergency Care

Go to the Emergency Department or call emergency services immediately if you experience:

Severe worsening abdominal pain
High fever (> 39°C)
Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
Persistent vomiting
Feeling faint or dizzy

Follow-Up Plan

Surgical follow-up within 2 weeks post-discharge if cholecystectomy not performed during admission

What to Expect (Prognosis)

Excellent with timely cholecystectomy. Mortality < 1% for uncomplicated cases. Recurrence rate without surgery: 30% within 1 year.

Treatment Overview

Main Treatment

• Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (within 72 hours of symptom onset)
• IV antibiotics: Ceftriaxone + Metronidazole OR Piperacillin-tazobactam

Medications You May Be Prescribed

Ketorolac — 30 mg IV, Every 6 hours

First-line analgesia; avoid in renal impairment

Ceftriaxone — 1-2 g IV, Once daily

Broad-spectrum coverage

Metronidazole — 500 mg IV, Every 8 hours

Anaerobic coverage

Piperacillin-Tazobactam — 4.5 g IV, Every 6 hours

Alternative monotherapy

This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions for your individual case.

Source: DynaMed Evidence-Based Clinical References