Navigating Cholecystitis: Symptoms, Nursing Care, and Treatment Options

Abstract

Nursing Assessment What is Cholecystitis and the signs and symptoms associated with it Cholecystitis occurs when bile juice is trapped in the gallbladder due to solid material called the gallstones blocking the tube draining bile juice from the gallbladder; hence bile accumulates in the gallbladder. Chronic medical conditions such as kidney failure, coronary heart disease, and certain cancers may lead to cholecystitis (Devendorf, Murray& Sharp 2018). The problem is diagnosed through abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or endoscopic ultrasound of the gallbladder to determine bile flow. There exists two types of cholecystitis; Acute cholecystitis and chronic cholecystitis. Acute Cholecystitis causes inflammation of the gall bladder, causing abdominal pain, while chronic cholecystitis causes inflammation of the gallbladder, lasting for a long time. According to (Jones et al. 2021), about 95% of people with acute cholecystitis have gallstones; few are diagnosed without gallstones. The signs and symptoms are severe pain in the upper right abdomen spreading the pain to the right shoulder or back. It is also characterized by tenderness over the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and fever. An inflamed bladder due to biliary obstruction causes unusual stool, chronic diarrhea, and jaundice. Describe the nursing education that should accompany a patient with cholecystitis Patients with cholecystitis should be educated on the causes of the disease, the complications when left untreated, and the surgical options if necessary. They should also be educated on their nutritional needs. Patients with cholecystitis are advised to follow a diet with low fat and increase carbohydrate intake. Nurses should educate on weight management, i.e., weight loss if necessary, through activity and diet management. Rapid weight loss intensifies the risk of developing gallstones, and so does obesity. Patients are advised not to skip meals and exercise daily. What medications can be used to treat or alleviate cholecystitis...