Print Overview Gallbladder and bile duct Enlarge image Close Gallbladder and bile duct Gallbladder and bile duct The gallbladder holds a yellow-green fluid that the liver makes, called bile. Bile flows from the liver into the gallbladder. It stays in the gallbladder until needed to help digest food. During eating, the gallbladder releases bile into the bile duct. The duct carries the bile to the upper part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, to help break down fat in food. Cholecystitis (ko-luh-sis-TIE-tis) is swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the belly under the liver. The gallbladder holds fluid that digests food. This fluid is called bile. The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine. Most often, gallstones that block the tube leading out of the gallbladder cause cholecystitis. This results in a bile buildup that can cause inflammation. Other causes of cholecystitis include bile duct changes, tumors, serious illness and certain infections. If not treated, cholecystitis can lead to serious complications, such as gallbladder rupture. These can be life-threatening. Treatment for cholecystitis often involves surgery to remove the gallbladder.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health SymptomsSymptoms of cholecystitis may include: Severe pain in the upper right or center belly area. Pain that spreads to the right shoulder or back. Tenderness over the belly area when it's touched. Nausea. Vomiting. Fever. Cholecystitis symptoms often come on after a meal. A large or fatty meal is most likely to cause symptoms. When to see a doctorMake an appointment with your healthcare professional if you have symptoms that worry you. If your belly pain is so bad that you can't sit still or get comfortable, have someone drive you to the emergency room. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Address 1 Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Causes Gallstones Enlarge image Close Gallstones Gallstones Gallstones are hard pieces of bile that can form in the gallbladder. Bile is a fluid that digests food. The liver makes it. It's stored in the gallbladder. During eating, the gallbladder contracts and empties bile into the part of the small intestine called the duodenum. Cholecystitis is when your gallbladder is inflamed. Gallbladder inflammation can be caused by: Gallstones. Most often, cholecystitis is the result of hard particles of bile that can form in the gallbladder, called gallstones. Gallstones can block the tube that carries bile when it leaves the gallbladder. The tube is called the cystic duct. Bile builds up in the gallbladder, causing swelling and irritation. Tumor. A tumor may keep bile from draining out of the gallbladder as it should. This causes bile buildup that can lead to cholecystitis. Bile duct blockage. Stones or thickened bile and tiny particles called sludge can block the bile duct and lead to cholecystitis. Kinking or scarring of the bile ducts also can cause blockage. Infection. AIDS and other infections caused by viruses can cause gallbladder swelling and irritation. Serious illness. Very serious illness can damage blood vessels and lessen blood flow to the gallbladder. This can lead to cholecystitis. Risk factorsHaving gallstones is the main risk factor for getting cholecystitis. ComplicationsIf not treated, cholecystitis can lead to serious complications, including: Infection within the gallbladder. If bile builds up in the gallbladder, the bile may get infected. Death of gallbladder tissue. Cholecystitis that isn't treated can cause tissue in the gallbladder to die. This is called gangrene. This most common complication mainly affects older people, those who wait to get treatment and those with diabetes. Gangrene can lead to a tear in the gallbladder. Or it may cause the gallbladder to burst. Torn gallbladder. A tear, called a perforation, in the gallbladder may result from gallbladder swelling or infection or the death of gallbladder tissue. PreventionYou can reduce your risk of cholecystitis by taking the following steps to prevent gallstones: Lose weight slowly. Fast weight loss can raise the risk of gallstones. Be at a healthy weight. Being overweight makes you more likely to get gallstones. To get to a healthy weight, cut calories and increase your physical activity. Stay at a healthy weight through healthy eating and exercise. Choose a healthy-eating plan. Eating foods high in fat and low in fiber may raise the risk of gallstones. To lower your risk, eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment Oct. 23, 2024 Print Show references Ferri FF. Cholecystitis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2025. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 3, 2024. Kurihara H. et al. Acute cholecystitis: Which flow-chart for the most appropriate management? Digestive and Liver Disease. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.dld.2023.02.005. Acute cholecystitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hepatic-and-biliary-disorders/gallbladder-and-bile-duct-disorders/acute-cholecystitis. Accessed July 3, 2024. Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/all-content. Accessed July 3, 2024. Afdhal NH. Acalculous cholecystitis: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 3. 2024. Zakko SF, et al. Acute calculous cholecystitis: Clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 3. 2024. Vollmer CM, et al. Treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 3. 2024. AskMayoExpert. Biliary stone disease. Mayo Clinic; 2023. Hudson JL, et al. Endoscopic approaches to cholecystitis. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2023; doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000002351. Rajan E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. July 10, 2022. Related Associated Procedures Abdominal ultrasound CT scan HIDA scan Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health CholecystitisSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Address 1 Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry