Cholecystitis

Question 1

What causes cholecystitis?

Answer 1

Anything that can cause an obstruction

Trauma, tumors, abscesses, stones

Question 2

What is cholelithiasis?

Answer 2

Y’all stones

Can be cholesterol gallstones or pigment gallstones

Question 3

What are the risk factors for gallstones?

Answer 3

Being female, >40, being Native American and Mexican American, overweight/obesity, pregnancy, high fat/cholesterol diet, low fiber diet, diabetes, quick weight loss, excess estrogen, liver disease

Question 4

What are s/s of cholecystitis?

Answer 4

URQ pain-can radiate to right shoulder

N/V

Jaundice

Hypotension

Lethargy

Pruritus

Question 5

What are some interventions to resolve chole pain?

Answer 5

NG tube
NPO 
Meds (fat soluble vitamins, antiemetics, antibiotics if infection)
Rest
Small, frequent meals

Question 6

What medications might be on board for chole patients?

Answer 6

Antibiotics-infection
Ursodiol/chemodial-dissolve clots, toxic to liver, expensive
Cholestyramine-treats pruritus, binds bile salt to feces to excrete
Morphine-pain

Question 7

What other interventions might be performed?

Answer 7

T Tube (500 mL in 24 hr, then 200 on day 2-3)
Shock wave lithotripsy
Cholecystectomy