Master Cholecystitis Assessment with Picmonic for Nursing RN

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Cholecystitis Assessment

Coal-on-fire-in-gallbladder and Assess-man

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Cholecystitis is gallbladder inflammation caused by biliary obstruction or bacteria entering the gallbladder. Bile is produced in the liver and stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. The condition may be acute or chronic depending on the cause (refer to the Picmonic on "Cholecystitis Causes"). Symptoms include right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, fever, clay colored stools, and jaundice. Instruct the patient to avoid fatty or spicy foods that may exacerbate symptoms. Assess the patient's white blood cell count and monitor for signs of infection. An ultrasound may be used to determine cholecystitis and rule out other possible causes of the patient's symptoms. Refer to the Picmonic on "Cholecystitis Interventions" for further information.

10 KEY FACTS

As gallstones pass through the cystic duct or common bile duct, they lodge into the ducts and cause obstruction and visceral pain. “Biliary colic” refers to severe and constant pain caused by gallstones obstructing the common bile duct (unlike traditional intestinal colic, which is intermittent from obstructed peristalsis). The patient may experience excruciating pain lasting up to an hour with symptoms of tachycardia, diaphoresis, and prostration. Ingesting a high-fat meal or lying down may induce biliary colic. After the pain subsides, the patient may experience residual tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen as well as abdominal rigidity.

Acute pain and tenderness associated with cholecystitis is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The pain often refers to the right shoulder and scapula.

Since biliary obstruction prevents bilirubin from reaching the small intestine to be converted to urobilinogen, the patient with cholecystitis may excrete clay colored stools.

Obstruction of bile flow into the duodenum impairs liver function and manifests as jaundice. The characteristic symptom of jaundice is yellowing of the skin and sclera. Ultrasound may be performed to determine possible liver dysfunction causing jaundice and clay colored stools in the patient with cholecystitis.

The patient with acute cholecystitis may experience nausea and vomiting. Nausea after eating meals is a common symptom of cholecystitis. Administering antiemetics will help alleviate symptoms. After the patient vomits, frequent mouth rinses may be done to provide comfort.

Indigestion is an initial symptom of acute cholecystitis. Dyspepsia or heartburn is a common symptom of chronic cholecystitis.

Manifestations of inflammation related to cholecystitis include fever. The patient with cholecystitis may also have an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count caused by inflammation.

The patient with cholecystitis may exhibit signs of infection such as fever and increased WBC count. Monitoring the patient's temperature and WBC is critical for early detection and treatment of infection.

Biliary obstruction prevents bile from entering the small intestine for fat digestion. The patient with cholecystitis will develop an intolerance to fatty or spicy foods. Ingesting fatty foods will cause flare ups of biliary colic with symptoms including nausea, anorexia, and a sensation of fullness. The pain frequently occurs 3-6 hours after eating a high-fat meal.

Ultrasound may be performed to diagnose cholelithiasis, or gallstones causing gallbladder inflammation. The diagnostic tool may also be completed to ensure the absence of calcification that may indicate cancer. In patients with cholecystitis, ultrasound is performed to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. The ultrasound may show biliary sludge or gallbladder wall thickening indicating inflammation.

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