Cholecystitis Pathochart

This nursing cheat sheet from NURSING.com provides valuable insights into cholecystitis, an acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, typically caused by cholelithiasis (gallstones), duct obstruction, or infection. The gallbladder, responsible for storing and secreting bile into the duodenum, aids in fat digestion. If left uncorrected, cholecystitis can lead to liver damage​​. Key symptoms for assessment include nausea/vomiting, right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain occurring 2-4 hours after high-fat meals, Murphy’s Sign (pain with expiration), and rebound tenderness over RUQ​​. Therapeutic management focuses on decreasing gallbladder stimulation, which involves keeping the patient NPO (nothing by mouth), using nasogastric decompression, avoiding gas-forming foods, administering antiemetics and analgesics, and possibly proceeding with a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)​​. Patient education is centered around dietary modifications, like avoiding high-fat foods, and preparing for potential post-treatment symptoms such as loose stools​​.