what is cholecystitis
Knowledge center. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ connected to the liver, on the right side of the abdomen, which stores bile and releases it into the small intestine to help in the digestion of fat. Gallstones-in the majority of cases acute cholecystitis is caused by gallstones or biliary sludge getting trapped at the gallbladder's opening. 2  Injury-trauma to the abdomen, or surgery, can result in cholecystitis. 3  Infection-if the infection is located within the bile, the gallbladder can become inflamed.