Spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation post-cardiac transplantation

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Transplant Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation is a rare clinical emergency.
• Gallbladder perforation post-cardiac transplantation is exceptionally uncommon and challenging to diagnose preoperatively.
• Immunosuppression following cardiac transplant may contribute to this condition.

Observation:

• A case of spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation in an intensive care unit patient post-cardiac transplantation is presented.
• The patient's presentation was complicated by recent cardiac transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy.
• No prior documented cases with a preoperative diagnosis exist in the literature.

Findings:

• Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and targeted ultrasound were instrumental in diagnosing gallbladder perforation.
• These imaging modalities provided complementary information crucial for timely intervention.
• The diagnosis was established preoperatively, enabling prompt surgical management.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering rare diagnoses like gallbladder perforation in critically ill transplant patients.
• Advanced imaging techniques are vital for the preoperative diagnosis of this life-threatening condition.
• Early diagnosis and surgical intervention (cholecystectomy) are critical for successful patient outcomes in spontaneous gallbladder perforation.