Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
03:27
The Role of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Complex Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Navigation
Published on: January 31, 2025
Some gallbladder-like pain demystified: three cases
1Department of Integrative Medicine, Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. bkielczynska@chpnet.org
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
|March 11, 2009
Summary
Acupuncture effectively relieved intense, undiagnosed right upper quadrant pain, often mimicking gallbladder issues. This treatment provided pain relief for patients with and without a confirmed gallbladder diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pain Management
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Undiagnosed right upper quadrant pain can be debilitating.
- Conventional diagnostic imaging (sonograms, MRIs) may not identify the source of pain.
- Acupuncture is explored for its potential in managing pain without clear organic causes.
Observation:
- Patients presented with severe right upper quadrant pain, characteristic of gallbladder discomfort.
- Standard medical evaluations, including imaging, yielded negative results for these patients.
- One patient had acute cholecystitis with sludge, confirmed by MRI.
Findings:
- Acupuncture treatment resulted in complete pain resolution for all three patients.
- This included patients with undiagnosed pain and the patient with acute cholecystitis.
- The study highlights acupuncture's efficacy in resolving gallbladder-like abdominal pain.
Implications:
- Acupuncture may offer a viable treatment option for functional abdominal pain.
- It provides a potential therapeutic avenue when conventional diagnostics are inconclusive.
- Further research into the mechanisms of acupuncture for abdominal pain is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most commonly caused by obstruction of the cystic duct. This blockage prevents bile from draining, leading to gallbladder distension, inflammation, and potentially serious complications. This condition may present acutely or chronically and can happen with or without gallstones.EtiologyAbout 95% of cholecystitis cases are calculous, caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct, leading to bile accumulation and inflammation of the gallbladder...
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) presents with diverse symptoms depending on the location and severity of the ulcer. Clinical manifestations of peptic ulcer include dull pain and a burning sensation in the mid-epigastric region.
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:17Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that plays a crucial role in our digestive system. Measuring about 10 cm in length, it is comparable in size to a kiwi fruit and is located in a hollow area on the lower surface of the liver. The gallbladder's primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a fluid produced by the liver that aids in digestion.
The gallbladder's anatomy consists of three regions: the fundus, body, and neck. Extending from the neck, the cystic duct joins the common...
The gallbladder's anatomy consists of three regions: the fundus, body, and neck. Extending from the neck, the cystic duct joins the common...
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
The pancreas, an elongated and flat gland situated behind the stomach, serves a vital function in digesting food and managing blood sugar levels.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:25Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing, relapsing inflammation of the pancreas, characterized by irreversible damage to the gland. It results in progressive destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma, fibrosis, and eventual loss of both exocrine and endocrine function. The disease may evolve gradually after multiple episodes of acute pancreatitis or develop independently.EtiologyChronic pancreatitis can arise from a variety of causes:Alcohol use is the leading cause, accounting for 70–80% of...
01:25Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications
Duodenal UlcersDuodenal ulcers are the most common form of peptic ulcer disease, presenting with chronic, intermittent epigastric pain. Pain typically appears 2–3 hours after meals, especially when the stomach is empty, often waking patients at night. It is characteristically relieved by food or antacids (“pain–food–relief”). Some patients remain asymptomatic until complications like bleeding or perforation emerge, particularly with NSAID or anticoagulant use.Gastric UlcersGastric ulcers share...