Emphysematous cholecystitis: report of a case

A case is reported of emphysematous cholecystitis that occurred seven months after vagotomy and hemigastrectomy (with Billroth II reconstruction). It was successfully treated by means of initial cholecystostomy and interim cholecystectomy six weeks later. Although it has been urged by some that an emergency operation is always indicated in this condition, in the case presented, the timing of the operation was determined by the overall clinical picture of the patient.