Complications

Cholecystitis can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

• Infection within the gallbladder. If bile builds up within your gallbladder, causing cholecystitis, the bile may become infected.
• Death of gallbladder tissue. Untreated cholecystitis can cause tissue in the gallbladder to die (gangrene). It's the most common complication, especially among older people, those who wait to get treatment, and those with diabetes. This can lead to a tear in the gallbladder, or it may cause your gallbladder to burst.
• Torn gallbladder. A tear (perforation) in your gallbladder may result from gallbladder swelling, infection or death of tissue.