Pericholecystic Fluid Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Ultrasound, Treatment
Gall bladder is an important organ of the body which is present just below liver on the right side of abdomen. When inflammation occurs in the walls of gall bladder it is termed as cholecystitis. Pericholecystic fluid is the severe complication of cholecystitis in which fluid is also found in gall bladder along with inflammation. It is diagnosed upon ultrasound imaging. Basically inflamed walls of gall bladder shows a hypodense layer of sub serosal edema around it. And this layer is known as pericholecystic fluid. It shows the signs and symptoms related to inflammation because of pregnancy existing cholecystitis.
Common symptoms of pericholecystic fluid are mainly associated with inflammation of walls of gall bladder. It involves pain in upper quadrant of gall bladder at right side. Patient may feel temperature because of inflammation. Fever and chills are commonest symptoms of pericholecystic fluid. The amount of white blood cells increases in blood. Other symptoms include no or little appetite, vomiting, nausea and bloating in abdominal area. Patient feels tenderness in the right upper quadrant of gall bladder because of inflammation and pericholecystic fluid. Sweating may occur because of high level of white blood cells in blood.
It is the severe complication of cholecystitis. So pericholecystic fluid occurs secondary to it. Biliary sludge and stones in gall bladder can cause formation of pericholecystic fluid just because these stones or biliary sludge got stuck in the opening of gall bladder. Other possible causes may include:
The 1st step of treatment of pericholecystic fluid is balanced diet. Patient have to avoid solid food intake and should prefer liquid diet. Hospitalized patients are on intravenous therapy for continuous liquid diet. Doctor prescribes some medications like pain killers and antibiotics in case of an infection. Surgery is another option but there are chances of re-occurrence of inflammation and ultimately formation of pericholecystic fluid due to gall stones.
Surgery is only preferred if there are very less complications. Main complications are gangrene and perforation of gall bladder. Immediate surgery is performed in case of chronic inflammation.
Usually a group of tests are performed to diagnose pericholecystic fluid which normally include blood test, ultrasound, computerized tomography CT scan and hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan HIDA.
In ultrasound, gall stones are visible and the walls of gall bladder are inflamed. Ultrasound clearly shows infection within gall bladder. A free flowing fluid is also seen in the imaging of ultrasound.
All the diagnostic methods are useful in diagnosing pericholecystic fluid but ultrasound is the easiest and accurate way of diagnosing pericholecystic fluid. Mostly doctors prefer ultrasound report for analysis because it shows the severity of disease.
Pericholecystic Fluid Symptoms
Common symptoms of pericholecystic fluid are mainly associated with inflammation of walls of gall bladder. It involves pain in upper quadrant of gall bladder at right side. Patient may feel temperature because of inflammation. Fever and chills are commonest symptoms of pericholecystic fluid. The amount of white blood cells increases in blood. Other symptoms include no or little appetite, vomiting, nausea and bloating in abdominal area. Patient feels tenderness in the right upper quadrant of gall bladder because of inflammation and pericholecystic fluid. Sweating may occur because of high level of white blood cells in blood.
Pericholecystic Fluid Causes
It is the severe complication of cholecystitis. So pericholecystic fluid occurs secondary to it. Biliary sludge and stones in gall bladder can cause formation of pericholecystic fluid just because these stones or biliary sludge got stuck in the opening of gall bladder. Other possible causes may include:
- Longer period of fast.
- Deficiency in immune system.
- Vasculitis.
- Shock
- Any kind of injury in abdomen at the site of gall bladder.
- Sepsis or trauma can also cause formation of pericholecystic fluid.
- Sometimes surgery of abdomen leads to pericholecystic fluid.
- Any infectious disease or tumor in gall bladder causes inflammation and blockage of out flow of bile.
Pericholecystic Fluid Treatment
The 1st step of treatment of pericholecystic fluid is balanced diet. Patient have to avoid solid food intake and should prefer liquid diet. Hospitalized patients are on intravenous therapy for continuous liquid diet. Doctor prescribes some medications like pain killers and antibiotics in case of an infection. Surgery is another option but there are chances of re-occurrence of inflammation and ultimately formation of pericholecystic fluid due to gall stones.
Surgery is only preferred if there are very less complications. Main complications are gangrene and perforation of gall bladder. Immediate surgery is performed in case of chronic inflammation.
Pericholecystic Fluid Ultrasound
Usually a group of tests are performed to diagnose pericholecystic fluid which normally include blood test, ultrasound, computerized tomography CT scan and hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan HIDA.
In ultrasound, gall stones are visible and the walls of gall bladder are inflamed. Ultrasound clearly shows infection within gall bladder. A free flowing fluid is also seen in the imaging of ultrasound.
All the diagnostic methods are useful in diagnosing pericholecystic fluid but ultrasound is the easiest and accurate way of diagnosing pericholecystic fluid. Mostly doctors prefer ultrasound report for analysis because it shows the severity of disease.
Pericholecystic Fluid Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Ultrasound, Treatment
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
March 20, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
March 20, 2019
Rating:
