Acute acalculous cholecystitis. A review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a rare but critical condition.
• It involves gallbladder inflammation without gallstones, often leading to perforation and death if untreated.
• Causes include bile stasis and ischemia, resulting in gallbladder wall inflammation and infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic challenges of AAC, particularly in critically ill patients.
• To review current imaging modalities for AAC diagnosis.
• To discuss management options for AAC.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on acute acalculous cholecystitis.
• Discussion of diagnostic imaging techniques: ultrasonography, CT, and radionuclide scans.
• Analysis of treatment strategies: surgical or percutaneous cholecystostomy and cholecystectomy.

Main Results:

• AAC diagnosis can be challenging, especially in critically ill patients.
• Imaging techniques like ultrasonography, CT, and radionuclide scans are vital for diagnosis.
• Management involves gallbladder drainage or removal based on clinical status.

Conclusions:

• Prompt diagnosis and management of AAC are essential to prevent mortality.
• A combination of clinical suspicion and advanced imaging aids diagnosis.
• Treatment decisions are guided by patient condition, favoring drainage or surgical intervention.