Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)

5-minute read

See your doctor if you have abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. If the pain is so bad that you can’t sit still or get comfortable, go straight to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Key facts

Cholecystitis is inflammation of your gallbladder.
Symptoms of cholecystitis include pain in the middle or right side of your abdomen, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Cholecystitis is most commonly caused by gallstones.
You’ll usually need to be treated in hospital with fasting, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, medicine for pain relief.
You may also need surgery to remove your gallbladder.

What is cholecystitis?

Cholecystitis is inflammation of your gallbladder, often caused by gallstones. It can be very painful and usually needs prompt medical treatment.

Your gallbladder is a small organ underneath your liver on the right side of your upper abdomen. It stores a thick dark green fluid called bile, which the liver produces to help with digestion.

What are the symptoms of cholecystitis?

Symptoms of cholecystitis include:

an intense pain in the middle or right side of your upper abdomen, spreading to your back or shoulders
nausea and/or vomiting
fever

If you are in pain, don't ignore it because cholecystitis is a serious condition can lead to complications. An infection in your abdomen can be very serious.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How is cholecystitis caused?

Cholecystitis most frequently occurs when gallstones (‘stones’ that form within the bile coming down from your liver) block the tube leading out of your gallbladder. This results in a build-up of bile, which causes inflammation.

Rarely, cholecystitis can also be caused by other problems with your bile duct, such as a tumour, problems with blood supply to the gallbladder, and infections.

How is cholecystitis diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects you have cholecystitis, they will examine you and ask you about your medical history. They will usually order an ultrasound of your abdomen and order a blood test to look for signs of liver inflammation or infection. They may order further tests such as a CT of your abdomen if the diagnosis isn’t definite from the ultrasound.

Anatomy of the liver and gallbladder — Anatomy of the upper abdominal area, showing the liver and gallbladder.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is my cholecystitis treated?

You’ll usually need to be treated in hospital with fasting, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and medicine for pain relief. You may also need surgery to remove your gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Surgery is standard treatment if you have acute cholecystitis caused by gallstones.

Your gallbladder may be removed using laparoscopy. This is a type of keyhole surgery performed in the abdominal (belly) area. If there are complications during the keyhole surgery, your doctors may need to switch to an open operation.

You can usually live a normal life without your gallbladder. After the operation, bile will flow straight from your liver to your small intestine.

What can happen if my cholecystitis isn’t treated?

If cholecystitis isn’t treated, it can lead to liver inflammation, a serious infection, a torn gallbladder or the death of some of the tissue in your gallbladder, all of which may be fatal.

Resources and support

If you need to know more about gallstones, or to get advice on what to do next, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Find out more about the gallbladder from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA).