What is acute cholecystitis?

Appeared in: RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022

Explanation

Acute cholecystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the gallbladder.
It is most commonly caused (in over 90% of cases) by a gallstone blocking the cystic duct, the tube that drains bile from the gallbladder.
This blockage leads to bile buildup, increased pressure, and inflammation, causing the characteristic right upper quadrant abdominal pain.

Option A: Inflammation of the stomach is known as gastritis, not cholecystitis.
Option B: Inflammation of the intestines is called enteritis. If it involves both the stomach and intestines, it's known as gastroenteritis.
Option D: Inflammation of the spleen is termed splenitis, which is a relatively uncommon condition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition of Acute Cholecystitis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in assessing for acute cholecystitis by checking for Murphy's sign, monitoring vital signs for fever, and assessing pain levels, especially after meals.
Post-cholecystectomy nursing care involves pain management, monitoring incision sites for infection, and educating the patient on a low-fat diet during the initial recovery period to prevent digestive discomfort.
What if? If a critically ill patient (e.g., post-major surgery, septic) develops RUQ pain without gallstones on ultrasound, the diagnosis is likely acute acalculous cholecystitis. This form is more dangerous and has a higher mortality rate, requiring prompt recognition and intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key medical term in the question: 'acute cholecystitis'.
Break down the term using your knowledge of medical prefixes and suffixes: 'chole-' refers to bile/gall, 'cyst-' refers to a sac (the gallbladder), and '-itis' means inflammation.
Combine the parts: 'cholecystitis' literally means inflammation of the gallbladder.
Evaluate the options provided and select the one that matches this direct definition.
Eliminate the other options by recalling the correct terms for inflammation of other organs (gastritis for stomach, enteritis for intestines, splenitis for spleen).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q4Ztgr3qVSJRZ73Vw86oDN

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 876-878

E6 Pathology-Vandana Puri & Kavita Gaur Textbook of Pathology and Genetics p. 254-256

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 636-638

Practise the full RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.