[Acalculous gangrenous cholecystitis in a toddler]

The authors describe a case of acute gangrenous cholecystitis in a 17-month-old boy manifested by symptoms of an inflammatory acute abdomen after several days of a febrile condition associated with diarrhoea. Cholecystectomy was performed and after antibiotic and infusion therapy a noncomplicated postoperative development followed. Five years after operation the boy has no subjective complaints. In the discussion the authors analyze the incidence, aetiopathogenesis, clinical, laboratory and X-ray findings of this rare disease. For the therapy of advanced cholecystitis the authors recommend cholecystectomy.