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Updated: May 31, 2026

06:05
Enema of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Published on: January 27, 2023
[An elderly female with abdominal pain].
Isaac Baley Spindel1, Karla Susana Martín Téllez, Jorge Cervantes Castro
1Departamento de Cirugía, Centro Médico ABC, México, D.F.
Summary
Gallbladder volvulus is a rare condition mimicking acute cholecystitis in elderly patients, especially those with prior weight loss. Diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion as biochemical markers are unreliable.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Acute cholecystitis is common in the elderly.
- Gallbladder volvulus is a rare but serious condition.
Observation:
- A 78-year-old female presented with symptoms typical of acute cholecystitis.
- Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a hemorrhagic infrahepatic mass and hemoperitoneum.
- Intraoperative findings identified a 15 x 5 cm gallbladder volvulus.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed gallbladder volvulus.
- This condition often presents similarly to acute cholecystitis.
Implications:
- Gallbladder volvulus should be considered in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis symptoms, particularly after significant weight loss.
- No specific preoperative biochemical tests can identify patients at high risk for gallbladder volvulus.
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