Acute Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder which is brought on by the blockage of bile by gallstones. This inflammation can lead to a gangrenous gallbladder which with no medical intervention can be a fatal condition. Gangrene is the localized death of cells brought on by infection or interruption of blood supply, it mostly occurs on the finger and toes but sometimes affects internal organs also. In people affected by gallbladder diseases, 10 percent have gallstones that block the bile duct leading to inflammation of the gallbladder wall. The outflow of bile then causes further damage to the gallbladder and bile fluid gets accumulated, expanding the gallbladder wall. This accumulation of fluid and inflammation causes the death of the tissue and this condition is known as gangrenous gallbladder. Symptoms High fever and shaking chills are symptomatic of this medical condition and they are accompanied by a high heartbeat rate. Many affected people will experience vomiting and nausea which is common when one has a gallbladder disease. The necrosis of the gallbladder can hamper the gallbladder functioning and can also lead to digestive system problems, and add to the discomfort of the already affected person. Bloating of the stomach and painful cramps are also some of the common gallbladder disease symptoms. Low blood pressure and experiencing a rigid abdomen are the other indications of an inflammation in the gallbladder. The drop in blood pressure can lead to other complications like fainting and severe fatigue in the affected person. Treatment A normal physical check up might not determine this medical condition, in most cases an ultrasound is required to determine that a person has the same. Blood test of a person with this disease will indicate a high count in the white blood cells (WBC). Doctors will also perform a CT scan before devising the best course of treatment. Gangrene is the death of tissue and in a gangrenous gallbladder, a surgery will be done to remove this dead tissue to stop the spread of infection. The gallbladder surgery recovery time is dependent upon the time it takes for the incision to heal. The affected people will be given intravenous fluids to rehydrate them and will be asked to fast for a certain period of time. Some of the affected people will have to undergo an open cholecystectomy for their treatment while others will have to go through a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The use of indomethacin to reduce the inflammation of the gallbladder is quite common and generally is the first course of treatment for gallbladder pain relief. Indomethacin is very effective in reducing the swelling and giving relief from pain and fever. The use of antibiotics is necessary to stop the spread of the infection and to help the body deal with the inflamed gallbladder. Sphincterotomy is one of the ways to extract a gallstone that is blocking the bile duct, and in this mode of treatment, an electrosurgical instrument is used. This instrument is used with the help of an endoscope similar to the one used in ERCP. At times a lithotripsy instrument is used to blast the gallstones using high frequency sound waves. In some cases, the gangrenous gallbladder would have to be removed and this is the only option as infection might lead to gallbladder cancer. For gallbladder pain relief, a person may have to go on a diet regimen and will have to follow some dietary restriction after a surgical procedure. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.