In a patient with an inflamed gallbladder, which symptom is most likely to be encountered?

In a patient with an inflamed gallbladder, the symptom most commonly encountered is pain in the right shoulder, also known as referred pain. This phenomenon occurs due to irritation of the phrenic nerve, which innervates both the diaphragm and the gallbladder. Inflammation or irritation in the gallbladder can lead to this kind of referred pain, manifesting as discomfort in the shoulder area.

This symptom often accompanies cholecystitis, which is inflammation of the gallbladder, and helps differentiate it from other abdominal issues. The right shoulder pain emerges from the body’s interconnected nerve pathways, illustrating how one area can influence the sensation in another.

Other symptoms like vomiting dark red blood typically indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, which is not directly related to gallbladder inflammation, while bruising around the umbilicus (Cullen’s sign) usually points to intra-abdominal bleeding or peritoneal irritation. Pain in the right lower quadrant, often associated with appendicitis or other conditions, does not specifically indicate gallbladder issues. Thus, the right shoulder pain stands out as a significant and relevant symptom in cases of gallbladder inflammation.