Management of chronic cholecystitis

In suspected chronic cholecystitis, if the clinical presentation is characteristic of gallbladder disease then no special investigations are necessary apart from ultrasonography to confirm the presence of gallstones. A less clear-cut presentation may necessitate more extensive investigation, e.g. upper GI endoscopy, serum amylase, etc.

The treatment of choice is a cholecystectomy. Patients are often put on a low fat diet prior to the operation. This may have two effects: relief of symptoms - presumably because of removal of stimulus of gallbladder contraction - and, if necessary, facilitation of weight loss.