Symptoms, Possible Diagnostic Tests, and Outcomes of Cholecystitis - Essay Example

"Symptoms, Possible Diagnostic Tests, and Outcomes of Cholecystitis" is an outstanding example of a paper on the gastrointestinal system.
Diseases of the gallbladder are not usually common. However, when they occur, they pose a significant challenge to the affected individual. One of such diseases is known as cholecystitis. The name derives from the swelling and discomfort it causes in the gallbladder (National Library of Medicine (NLM), 2015). The main reason for an individual developing the diseases is locking-in of bile in the gallbladder (NLM, 2015). Trapping of the bile takes place as a gallstone shuts down the cystic duct. The condition is common in adults. Moreover, it is more prevalent in women as compared to men (Dua, Desai, Kuy, Sharma, Jechow, McMaster & Patel, 2013). The paper will focus on symptoms, possible diagnostic tests, and outcomes of cholecystitis.

There are various presenting symptoms of the disease. The disease is associated with the primary symptoms that entail pain in the upper right side or upper middle of the abdomen (NLM, 2015). The pain usually lasts for at least half an hour. The affected individual may experience pain that may be sharp, steady, or spread in parts of the right shoulder blade (NLM, 2015). There are other minor symptoms of the disease. They include stools that are clay in colour, fever, nausea, vomiting as well as jaundice (NLM, 2015). Likewise, there are some symptoms that are only evident in a certain group of people. The symptoms are loss of appetite and bulge in the abdomen (NHS, 2014).

Various diagnostic tests are available for identification of cholecystitis. Diagnosis of the disease starts with the general practitioner (GP) examining the abdomen. A procedure named as Murphy’s sign is carried on the individual suspected to have the condition (NHS, 2014). In the test, one is asked to breathe in deeply as the GP hands are pressed on the stomach on the lower side of the rib cage (NHS, 2014). In the process, the gallbladder moves downwards as a result of deep breathing. A person suffering from the disease will experience abrupt pain as the gallbladder comes into contact with the section held by a GP hand (NHS, 2014). The individual can then be referred to the hospital for more tests as well as treatment.

More tests are carried out in hospitals. The tests can be viewed as responsible for the differential diagnosis of the condition. One of the tests is known as blood tests. It is done to establish signs of swelling in the body (NHS, 2014). Additionally, an ultrasound scan is done in the stomach of the affected individual. The scan helps in establishing the presence of gallstones and other problems of the gallbladder (NHS, 2014). Other tests include x-ray and various forms of computerized scans. The test helps in further analysis of the gallbladder challenges.

The disease has various possible outcomes. The condition may lead to complication if there are no immediate interventions. For example, in the worst scenario, the doctor may recommend removing the gallbladder (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). Lack of early intervention may also lead to enlargement of the gallbladder (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). This may lead to more infections and even tissue death. Hence, early intervention is required for the condition to avoid severity.